Annual Report 2006-2007 - Western Australian Museum

the western australian museum 

[ A n n uA l r e p ort 20 07 ] 

the we stern australian museum [ ] a n n u a l r e p o r t 2 0 0 7 

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ABOUT THIS REPORT 

This Annual Report is available in PDF format on The Western Australian Museum website 

www.museum.wa.gov.au 

Copies are available on request in alternate formats. 

Copies are archived in the State Library of Western Australia, the National Library Canberra 

and in The Western Australian Museum Library located at the Collection and Research 

Centre, Welshpool. 

For enquiries, comments, or more information about staff or projects mentioned in this 

report, please visit The Western Australian Museum website or contact the Museum at the 

address below. Telephone 9212 3700. 

PUBLISHED BY THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM 

Locked Bag 49, 

Welshpool DC, Western Australia 6986 

49 Kew Streeet, 

Welshpool, Western Australia 6106 

www.museum.wa.gov.au 

ISSN 0083-8721 


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Letter of transmittaL 4 

message from the minister 5 

the year in review 6 

– Chief exeCutive offiCer 

ExEcUTIvE SUMMARY ............................................ 8 

highLights of 

the western austraLian museum 2006–07 8 

introduCing 

the western austraLian museum 11 

museum at a gLanCe 12 

SIgNIfIcANT ISSUES AND TRENDS ......................14 

AgENcY PERfORMANcE 

– report on operations 16 

CoLLeCtions 17 

KnowLedge 21 

experienCes 27 

Community 36 

CapaCity 40 

OPERATIONAL STRUcTURE .................................. 44 

the museum aCt 1969 44 

governanCe and management44 

strategiC pLan 2006–2011 46 

organisationaL struCture 48 

the western austraLian museum foundation 49 

friends of the western austraLian museum 50 

[ cONTENTS ] 


DIScLOSURES AND LEgAL cOMPLIANcE ...............51 

finanCiaL statements 53 

Key performanCe indiCators 77 

advertising 83 

disabiLity aCCess inCLusion pLan 84 

equaL empLoyment opportunity outComes 86 

CompLianCe with pubLiC seCtor standards 

and ethiCaL Codes 86 

reCord Keeping pLans 87 

Corruption prevention 87 

sustainabiLity 87 

APPENDIcES ........................................................ 88 

feLLows, honorary assoCiates, 

researCh assoCiates 88 

advisory Committees 89 

voLunteers 90 

staff membership of externaL 

professionaL Committees 91 

pubLiCations – western austraLian museum 

pubLiCations unit93 

researCh pubLiCations 93 

LeCtures and presentations 98 

sponsors, benefaCtors 

and granting agenCies 103

LETTER Of TRANSMITTAL 

In accordance with the provisions of section 66 of 

the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985, 

we have pleasure in submitting for your information 

and presentation to Parliament the Annual Report 

of The Western Australian Museum for the financial 

year ending 30 June 2007. 

Overall, it has been a positive year with the Museum 

setting clear strategic goals and directions both 

operationally and financially. 

In line with these goals, the Museum created an 

exhibition on the colourful history of cricket to 

complement the arrival in Western Australia of the 

famed Ashes Urn. This was followed by a visually 

superb exhibition telling the stories of some of our 

early maritime explorers. 

The enormous job of relocating Museum objects from 

storage areas in Perth, Fremantle and Willetton to the 

Welshpool Collection and Research Centre is well on 

its way to completion and means that iconic objects 

including historical boats, machinery, furniture and 

vehicles are now in the best possible conditions and 

out of the elements. 

Work continues toward providing Western Australians 

with a new museum. If successful, Perth will be 

home to a vibrant, modern facility that will become a 

drawcard destination in its own right. 

The Western Australian Museum Foundation has 

also had a busy and challenging year with heavy 

involvement in both the cricket and early explorers 

Tim Ungar 

chair, Board of Trustees 

Western Australian Museum 

exhibitions and in the refurbishment of the Dampier Marine Gallery in The Western Australian Museum 

– Perth. 

On behalf of The WA Museum, I would like to acknowledge the ongoing support from the Minister for Culture 

and the Arts, the Hon. Sheila M c Hale MLA. 

In addition, I would like to extend my thanks to our advisory committees and Foundation for their time, 

commitment and expertise, support the Museum could not do without. 

Finally, I would like to express my appreciation to my fellow Trustees, to Museum CEO Dr Dawn Casey, to 

Museum management and staff and to our volunteers for their hard work and dedicated service over the 

past twelve months. 


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MESSAgE fROM THE MINISTER 

I am pleased to table in Parliament the 2006–07 

Annual Report of The Western Australian Museum. 

The past year has been one dedicated to consolidating 

the restructure and new ways of working for The 

Western Australian Museum. 

In a strong performance, the Museum has held its 

ground in the public arena, despite a number of 

infrastructure challenges and while continuing to bring 

about broad internal change. 

A solid foundation of relevant exhibitions, public 

programs – including school holiday programs, and 

scientific excellence – is beginning to reap rewards. 

The Museum’s sciences sector took centre stage 

through the year with the announcement of new 

species, the arrival of significant acquisitions and gifts 

and international interest in the work being carried out 

in the Nullarbor fossil caves. 

The organisation’s major home grown exhibition, 

Howzat! Western Australians and Cricket was a credit 

to all those involved and drew strong praise from the 

cricketing, museum communities and visitors. 

This exhibition is now on its way to the Museum’s 

regional centres in Kalgoorlie, Albany and Geraldton, 

where I am sure audiences will enjoy it as much as 

those who saw it during its metropolitan debut. 

A strong focus on creating new education and school 

holiday programs that relate to the exhibitions is 

proving successful with sessions booking out in most 

venues. 

Hon Sheila M c Hale MLA 

The Museum is also working towards amendments to the Museum Act 1969 which, when implemented, 

will assist in positioning the organisation as a contemporary, socially relevant institution able to keep pace 

with the economic, social and technological changes of the 21st century. 

I would like to acknowledge and thank the Board of Trustees for their input through the year and Dr Dawn 

Casey for her continued efforts on behalf of the Museum. 

The Museum is a complex organisation and requires dedication from a broad support base and my sincere 

thanks goes to the organisation’s staff at all of its sites, both metropolitan and regional, to its advisory 

committees and to its band of volunteers for their hard work and commitment. 


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Minister for culture and the Arts

Dr Dawn casey PSM, fAHA 

chief Executive Officer, 

Western Australian Museum 

THE YEAR IN REvIEW 

MESSAgE fROM THE cEO 

The past year has been a year of challenge and change 

for The Western Australian Museum following an 

organisational restructure and the development of the 

strategic plan 2006 – 2011. 

This strategic plan, now complete and being 

implemented, has provided a rare opportunity for staff 

to assist with a document that is now providing the 

Museum with a blueprint for its future directions and I 

would like to thank all those who provided their input 

and expertise. 

The plan includes the successful recruitment of a 

number of key positions, and the benefits of this work 

are beginning to show. 

A clear example of this is the effort to address the drop 

in visitor numbers to the Maritime Museum. Through a 

mix of events, relevant exhibitions and the development 

original public programs, including school holiday 

programs, I am confident that the coming year will see 

this trend arrested and turned around. 

While continuing to operate under tight financial 

constraints, the Museum is positioning itself through 

scientific excellence, public programs and relevant 

exhibitions to keep pace with the rapidly changing face 

of Western Australia. 

This year has been one of exceptional 

achievement with the Museum’s 



scientists, researchers and curatorial staff 

describing 42 new species – including 

the first new species of Taipan to be 

discovered in 125 years, carrying out 

vital conservation work on Mawson’s 

Huts in Antarctica, and working on a 

number of exhibition-based projects. 

These projects included work to refurbish 

the Woodside Gallery in the Perth site. It 

is now almost nine years since Woodside 

Energy Limited and The Western 

Australian Museum formed a partnership 

to investigate and document the rich 

marine biodiversity of the relatively 

unexplored Dampier Archipelago. 

This has resulted in more than 4,500 

different species of marine plants and 

animals being identified, 268 of which 

are new to science with many more yet to 

be described.

In order to do this, the Museum will continue to create a strong team that will work from a sound structural 

foundation to achieve the goals we have set ourselves. 

The Museum’s team of specialist scientists are increasingly providing objective, independent and authoritative 

information and advice to government and the private sector on biodiverse and culturally significant areas. 

A significant workload for museum scientists comes in the form of providing expert analysis on the 

implications of mining developments will be ongoing as the sector continues to perform strongly. 

Staff from Exhibition and Design worked with curators to produce the outstanding exhibition Howzat! Western 

Australians and Cricket that will travel to the 

regional museums over the next year or so. 

Work is complete on a visually stunning new 

exhibition Voyages of Grand Discovery that tells 

the stories of some of the early explorers who 

visited the Western Australian coastline. This 

exhibition was developed for display at the 

Maritime Museum. 

The collections held in storage areas around 

the metropolitan area continued to be moved 

to the Welshpool Collection and Research 

Centre (CRC) and the A Shed on Victoria Quay 

in Fremantle. 

Last year the State’s collection was 

formally valuated for insurance purposes 

at $205 million. We have now added a 

number of individual valuations to this 

on items such as the blue whale, the 

Batavia portico and the Eclipse Island 

Optic in Albany. 

As a result, the History Department’s furniture collection is now stored on archival quality pallets and a number 

of big items, such as horse drawn vehicles, iconic vessels, trucks and machinery are now under cover. 

With the relocation of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences to Welshpool, all the Museum’s 

scientific collections and staff from Perth site are now in the CRC. 

As part of the Strategic Plan, a training program was instigated for our visitor services officers, utilising internal 

expertise and external consultants. Staff training in a number of areas will be an ongoing part of Museum life. 

My sincere thanks go to Culture and Arts Minister, the Hon. Sheila M c Hale MLA, for her continued support and 

to The WA Museum’s Board of Trustees for their efforts on behalf of the organisation during a busy year. 

The Museum has indeed been a busy and exciting place to be over the past twelve months and I would 

like to thank staff across all sites, both metropolitan and regional, for their efforts, their input and their 

willingness to work with change. 

It has been a year of great achievement and continued challenge and I look forward to more of the same in 

the coming year. 


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[ ExEcUTIvE SUMMARY ] 

HIgHLIgHTS Of THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM 

ABOVE: Palaeontologist Dr Gavin Prideaux at work on the floor of one of the Nullarbor fossil caves. 

BELOW: The newly discovered Kimberley Chattering Rock Frog. 

2006–07 

fIELD WORk 

Museum staff carried out double the number of field trips this year, from 26 to 63, undertook 90 research 

projects and identified 42 new species during the year, substantially increasing our knowledge of the State’s 

natural and maritime history and contributing to the management and sustainability of the environment. 

Fossils from what have been dubbed the Thylacoleo Caves now show that the Nullarbor was once home 

to at least 69 species of birds and reptiles, and mammals including kangaroos, and ranging from pint-sized 

bettongs to three metre giants. 

Research also showed these ancient creatures thrived in a dry climate similar to that which exists today on 

the vast treeless plain in southern Australia. This challenges the theory that climate change contributed to 

the extinction of the Australian megafauna. 

Dr Ian Godfrey, Head of the Museum’s Conservation Department led a three-month expedition to carry 

out vital preservation work on the historically significant Mawson’s Huts at Cape Denison in the Australian 

Antarctic Territory. 

AWARDS AND HONOURS 

Dr Shelley Barker, research associate in the Entomology section of the Department of Terrestrial Invertebrates, 

was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s birthday honours list for service to entomology 

through research and identification of new beetle species, as an author and to science education. 

History Department honorary associate Mr Richard Rennie was awarded the Premier’s prize for excellence in 

science communication for his work at the Fremantle Light and Sound Discovery Centre, Fremantle History 

Museum. Since it opened in 2003, the centre has provided a model of excellence in science education. 

Dr Barry Hutchins retired from the Museum after 35 years service in June 2007 and a new species of 

wobbegong shark, described from specimens collected off the State’s south west coast and endemic to WA, 

was named Orectolobus hutchinsi in his honour. 


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Among the new species discovered this year was a 

member of the world’s most venomous snakes, the 

taipan. The newly described Central Ranges Taipan was 

found during a joint expedition between the Western 

Australian and South Australian Museums and the 

WA Department of Environment and Conservation 

to the Central Ranges near the borders of WA, SA 

and the Northern Territory. The field team worked 

closely with the Ngaanyatjarra people with funding 

provided by the Commonwealth Department of 

Environment and Heritage. It is more than 125 

years since the last taipan was described. 

Howzat! Western Australians and Cricket was created by The 

Western Australian Museum through the generosity of the 

cricketing fraternity. Photograph Norman Bailey. 

DEvELOPMENT AND BIODIvERSITY 


The Central Ranges Taipan is the latest member of this deadly 

species of snake to be described. 

New research work into Kimberley frogs resulted in a new species, the Chattering Rock Frog, Litoria staccato. 

It was discovered and named by Herpetology curator Dr Paul Doughty as a part of the program, which is 

funded by Alcoa Aluminum. 

cOMMUNITY PARTIcIPATION 

Community participation in the life of the Museum continues to increase. The emphasis on creating 

innovative and original school holiday programs and marketing them in a cohesive and comprehensive 

manner has resulted in programs being fully booked out. 

An example was the April school holiday program, Mary Surefoot’s Shoe Collection. This was a performance 

piece commissioned for the Museum and created by Spare Parts Puppets Theatre. 

The performance drew on the Museum’s History 

Department’s shoe collection for inspiration and 

a purpose built set was placed in the Maritime 

Museum’s temporary exhibition gallery. Over the 

school holiday period the performance was attended 

by 668 people. 

Museum staff undertook a series of lectures in 

regional museums through the year on topics such as 

the preservation work on Mawson’s Hut, megafauna 

and rock art to audiences of up to 300. 

During 2006-07 a total of 838,350 people 

visited the Museum’s sites. 

On Mother’s Day 2007, the Maritime 

Museum received its millionth visitor during 

a day of celebration attended by more than 

1,600 people. 

ExHIBITIONS AND EvENTS 

The Museum’s excellent Howzat! Western Australians and Cricket exhibition will shortly begin its regional 

tour of Kalgoorlie, Albany and Geraldton. During last year, the Museum held 28 exhibitions and special 

events around all venues. 

The WA Museum’s documentary Bone Diggers – Mystery of a Lost Predator, was launched and broadcast 

nationally. The documentary was created in conjunction with Storyteller Media Group and featured the work 

of the Museum’s Earth and Planetary Sciences Department on fossil marsupials from the Nullarbor Caves. It 

was also a finalist in its category for the national 25th annual Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM) awards 

for film, television, animation and multimedia. 


The work of the Department of Maritime Archaeology 

was featured in the second series of Shipwreck 

Detectives, which screened nationally on ABC-TV 

in 2007. 

Four ancient Chinese fossils were presented by the 

Federal Government to the Minster for Culture and 

the Arts, to be included in the Museum’s collection. 

The nest of dinosaur eggs, a cluster of two eggs 

and two fossil reptiles, recognised the assistance 

provided by the Museum to Federal and State Police 

and Customs in the retrieval of a large collection of 

illegally imported Chinese fossils.

gOvERNANcE 

This year’s report on operations reports against the Museum’s 2006–2011 Strategic Plan, which was 

developed following the organisational restructure. 

Over the past year 12 months, Museum staff were offered the opportunity to consult and have input into the 

Strategic Plan which now provides a blueprint for the Museum’s future directions. 

ASSET MANAgEMENT 

The State’s collection now stands at almost 

four million objects presently valued at $205 

million. This year, a number of individual and 

iconic objects, including the blue whale, were 

assessed and valued at more than $9 million. 

The Museum manages 200 located 

the we stern australian museum [ 0 ] a n n u a l r e p o r t 2 0 0 7 

shipwrecks of the 1,500 known to exist off the 

coast of Western Australia, $92 million in land 

and building assets and $14 million in non- 

building assets. 

Museum staff moved the historically significant Aboriginal craftsmen built pearling lugger Ancel from the 

Shipwreck Galleries of the Maritime Museum to safe and secure storage at the Welshpool Collection and 

Research Centre (CRC) in 2006–07. The vessel has been damaged by vandalism and the ravages of the 

aggressive marine environment. 

The History Department’s furniture collection was re-organised on custom built, archival quality pallets in 

the CRC. More than 5,500 collection items were brought to the CRC from the Willetton Store as well as 

6,000 items from the Earth and Planetary Sciences. 

All scientific staff and collections from the Perth site have now been relocated to the CRC. 

ABOVE: The historically significant pearling lugger Ancel being moved to secure storage at the Welshpool Collection 

and Research Centre. Photograph Michael Gregg. 

BELOW: History Department registrar Wendy Bradshaw working on the collection being moved into the Welshpool CRC. 

Photograph Norman Bailey. 

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The Western Australian Museum first opened in 1891 and since then has made a major contribution 

to the collection, conservation and research of the State’s natural and social history, maritime heritage 

and the cultural heritage of Indigenous communities in Western Australia. 

The legislative base for The Western Australian Museum derives from the Museum Act 1969, the Museum 

Regulations 1973 and the Maritime Archaeology Act 1973. In addition, the Museum administers, on 

behalf of the Commonwealth Government, the Protection of Moveable Heritage Act 1986 and the 

Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976. 

The Museum is a Body Corporate with Perpetual Succession and Common Seal, governed by a Board of 

seven Trustees, including the Chair. The Governor of Western Australia appoints the Trustees. The Trustees 

are the Accountable Authority for the purposes of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985. 

The Museum’s present profile is: 

• about 220 staff. 

INTRODUcINg THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM 

• eight Museum sites – Albany, Fremantle History, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Maritime Victoria Quay, 

Perth, Shipwreck Galleries and Samson House. 

• administration and collection storage facilities – Collection and Research Centre in Welshpool, Collection 

Store Willeton, A Shed Fremantle, Collection Store Albany, Collection Store Kalgoorlie. 

• about four million items in the Museum’s collections. 

• commercial operations including seven shops and venue hire at all sites. 

The purpose of The Western Australian Museum is to: 

• collect, preserve, investigate, document and showcase the enormous wealth and diversity of this 

State’s fauna, geological and meteoritic resources, as well as its social and maritime history, in order 

to understand and value the past, enhance and attend to the present and respond to the challenges 

of the future. 

• enrich Western Australia’s cultural life through a platform of sharing the unique stories of Western 

Australia’s people, land and sea and the State’s role in the region and the wider world. 

• integrate strategic collection and research activities with exhibitions and public programs that are 

educational, experiential, exciting, entertaining and innovative. 

• inspire discovery across diverse audiences, offering a forum to engage in debate and question issues 

that are important to, and impact on, society and the community. 

ABOVE: WA Museum Perth. Photograph courtesy Homes and Living Magazine. 


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There are just under four million items in the Museum collection, in 2005–06 this collection was 

independently valued at $176 million. In 2006–07 the Museum began the second stage of the 

valuation, adding a number of iconic items to the list and revising the valuation to $205 million. 

In 2006–07, 23,177 items were added to the collection. 

In 2006–07, 283 items were loaned from the collection to other institutions. 

Museum staff work in the following departmental areas. Each department has staff with specialist, often 

internationally regarded expertise: 

Aquatic Zoology 

Archaeology/ Anthropology 

Conservation 

Earth and Planetary Sciences 

History 

During 2006-07 Museum staff undertook: 

• 90 research projects 

• 47 research projects in collaboration with 

partners 

• 63 field trips 

During 2006-07 Museum staff described: 

• 42 new animal species 

• 4 new animal genera 

• 1 new animal subfamily 

• 1 new mineral species 

• 3 new meteorites 

• 2 new animal fossil species 

• 1 new animal fossil genus 

MUSEUM AT A gLANcE 

Maritime Archaeology 

Maritime History 

Terrestrial Invertebrates 

Terrestrial Vertebrates 

ABOVE: The Museum’s Shipwreck Galleries in Fremantle is a treasure trove of objects from the days of the early explorers. 




Through this extensive field work and research, the 

Museum’s scientists and conservation staff produced: 

• 92 peer-reviewed research publications 

• 35 unpublished reports, conference papers 

and popular publications 

• 184 lectures and presentations 

As a result of their extensive experience and 

international reputations Museum staff are members 

of 141 professional committees and associations. 

Museum staff responded to 475 requests for 

information from government and private sector on 

biodiversity and culturally significant areas. 

Museum scientists also work with staff in areas of 

public programs, exhibition and design. 

In 2006-07 four new exhibitions were developed.

Museum staff are much sought after as graduate and post graduate supervisors for tertiary students. In 2006- 

07 Museum staff supervised 13 PhD students from State, national and international tertiary institutions. 

The Western Australian Museum has an internationally recognised team of conservators, who in 2006-07 

conserved 71 objects ranging from coins to a diving suit. 

Albany 

Attendance – 75,835 

School holiday programs – 939 

Schools – 3,654 

Exhibitions – Policeman’s Eye, The Invisible 

Dutch, ANZANG, PIAF Emblems, Baudin, Escape! 

Fremantle to Freedom, Right Wrongs, Write Yes! 

1967 Referendum 

Perth 




Exhibitions – ANZANG, The Ashes, Howzat! Western 

Australians and Cricket, Pictures of a Changing 

Climate, Hot Spots, National Treasures from 

Australia’s Great Libraries, Youth Theatre Undone, 

Awesome, Camera Obscura, Right Wrongs, Write 

Yes! 1967 Referendum 

Kalgoorlie 




Exhibitions – ANZANG, Right Wrongs, Write Yes! 

1967 Referendum 

Geraldton 




Exhibitions – ANZANG 2005, Festival Flashbacks, 

Geraldton Camera Club, Escape! Fremantle to 

Freedom, Clem Burns Heritage Award, Right Wrongs, 

Write Yes! 1967 Referendum, ANZANG 2006 

Maritime Victoria Quay 


School holiday programs – 5,211 


Exhibitions – Captured in Colour – rare Photographs 

from the First World War, Australia Under Attack, 

Spare Parts Puppet Theatre – Aqua sapiens, Spare 

Parts Puppet Theatre – Mary Surefoot 

PUBLIc AccESS 

Shipwreck Galleries 


School holiday programs – 4,987 


Exhibitions – 

Fremantle History 




The partnership between Spare Parts Puppet Theatre and The 

WA Museum resulted in the highly popular Mary Surefoot’s 

Shoe Collection. Photograph Norman Bailey. 



Exhibitions – The Invisible Dutch, World Without 

Polio, Harmony Day Senior High Schools 

Photographic Competition, Fremantle families – the 

Masters and Burtons, The Invention of Television, 

Clarion Gold, Bubbles of Light – the evolution of the 

light globe 

Submarine Ovens 

Total visitors – 29,982 (included in Maritime 

Museum visitation)

[ SIgNIfIcANT ISSUES AND TRENDS ] 

ENvIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY 

In 2005, the Government released its State Sustainability Strategy and the Museum finalised its own 

sustainability action plan. With intense media focus on, and public interest in, the issue of climate change, 

sustainability continues to be a significant issue in public policy. 

Through its wide-ranging operations and activities, its broad research base and close connections with the 

community, the Museum has a key role in promoting and implementing sustainability in Western Australia. 

This is further recognised through the Museum’s Strategic Plan 2006 – 2011, which acknowledges 

environmental sustainability as a core value underpinning the activities and conduct of the Museum. 

The Museum’s sustainability action plan will be reviewed in 2007–08. 

cOMMUNITY OUTREAcH 

Collaboration is now widely used as an instrument of public policy to achieve shared outcomes within and 

across governments. Governments rely on collaboration and partnerships to formulate policy, improve 

implementation, provide more integrated services and increase its responsiveness to community needs. 

In recognition of the significance of this trend and continuing the process of restructuring within the Museum, 

in 2006 a business plan was developed to examine models for future service and program delivery in the 

area of community outreach and support. Further progress will be made on considering and implementing 

the business plan in 2007–08. 

LEgISLATION 

Since 2000, the Government has pursued a range of structural reforms in the public sector. The Museum 

has been working towards amendments to the Museum Act 1969 (MA) and the Maritime Archaeology 

Act 1973 (MAA), which both implement the Government’s machinery of government reforms and seek to 

position the Museum as a contemporary, socially relevant institution keeping pace with the economic, social 

and technological changes of the 21st century. 

The amendments to the MA address matters initially endorsed by Cabinet on 21 October 2002 to achieve 

accountability to the Parliament, preservation of artistic and operational independence in relation to custodial 

matters and collections, as well as deliver further efficiencies through uniform legislative provisions across all 

agencies within the portfolio in the areas of board structure and appointment. 

Since 1976, the MAA has contained inconsistencies with the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act 

1976 (HSA). Recommended amendments to the MAA seek to ensure consistency with the HSA and future 

compliance with the UNESCO Convention on Underwater Cultural Heritage, as well as reinstating the preeminence 

of the MAA as a model for modern maritime archaeological management. 

ABOVE: Maritime Archaeology staff assessing a wreck site. Photograph courtesy The WA Museum. 


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The Museum’s team of specialised scientists provide 

objective, authoritative information and advice to 

Government and the private sector on the impacts 

of mining and other developments on biodiverse and 

culturally significant areas. 

BIODIvERSITY 

NEW MUSEUM 


Western Australia’s enviable environment and 

biodiversity has been recognised as globally 

significant through the research activities 

of The Western Australian Museum. WA 

has eight of the 15 Australian hotspots and 

represents 26 bioregions, the most for any 

State or Territory. 

Western Australia is experiencing significant change and growth. The role of The Western Australian 

Museum, as with all contemporary museums, is to keep pace, tracking, documenting and displaying the 

endless fascination that is the world around us. 

The State’s strong economic growth has created an exceptional opportunity to build a much-needed new 

museum – a chance to build cultural infrastructure for the next century. 

The closure of the Francis Street building due to an ongoing, unacceptable risk of asbestos contamination 

has resulted in insufficient exhibition space at the existing Perth site – two major galleries were closed, 

substantially reducing the available area for exhibitions. The remaining buildings provide limited scope for 

presenting contemporary and engaging exhibitions and public programs. The majority of the existing exhibits 

have not altered in many years. 

Recent risk assessments indicate that there are also a number of occupational safety and health issues at 

the site that must be addressed, including: 

• the glass used throughout the existing buildings in exhibition showcases is unsafe and does not comply 

with current safety standards. 

• maintaining the requisite environmental conditions and control factors such as humidity, temperature, 

lighting and acoustics is an expensive process in the old buildings. 

• the commercial café, venue hire and shop facilities, considered an essential component of the modern 

museum visit, are poorly located and ineffectually serviced. 

• facilities to accommodate public programs and education activities are inadequate. 

A new museum will be a doorway to the whole of the State, welcoming people of all ages, abilities and 

backgrounds. 

A new museum will tell the extraordinary stories of ordinary and exceptional West Australians, which could 

include the stories of sporting greats, rural families, leaders in the fields of medicine, the sciences, teaching, 

great inventors, authors and poets. 

Major expansion within the resources and development 

sector is resulting in significant workload for 

museum scientists. 

The State’s economy continued to perform strongly 

over the past year due to the exceptional growth of 

the resources sector. The State has continued to 

facilitate development through new and expanding 

gas, petroleum, iron ore and other mineral projects. 

The Museum continues to work closely with 

proponents, consultants and the Environmental 

Protection section of the Department of Environment 

and Conservation, to assist in planning and 

development processes. 

RESOURcE SEcTOR DEvELOPMENT 


Staff provide relevant advice and 

information on the State’s fauna and on 

culturally significant areas, assessing 

the potential impacts of development 

in proposed areas. This work will 

continue to be a significant and growing 

contribution by the Museum to the 

State’s development.

The Western Australian Museum report on operations is reported against the objectives and goals 

articulated in the Museum’s Strategic Plan 2006–2011. The Strategic Plan represents an opportunity 

to reposition the Museum as a premier cultural and scientific institution and enhance its profile as a 

centre of excellence. 

The plan provides a whole of organisation framework for coherent and strategic planning and decision 

making. It provides a basis for the development of business plans for divisions and departments within the 

museum and master plans for each of the museum’s public sites. The strategic plan describes the links 

between the relevant government goals articulated in Better Planning Better Futures and the Museum’s 

outcomes. 

The Museum’s strategic plan reflects its multi functional, multi-disciplinary and complex operations. 

The Museum manages amongst other things: 

• the State’s collection of almost four million objects presently valued at $205 million. 

• 200 located shipwrecks of the 1500 known to exist off the coast of Western Australia. 

• $92 million of land and building assets and $14 million of non building assets 

• eight public sites in metropolitan and regional areas. 

• five collection storage facilities including 14,000 square metres in the Collection and Research Centre 

at Welshpool – which includes research and laboratory facilities. 

• commercial operations including seven shops and venue hire. 

Some of the diverse functions undertaken by the Museum and reported under Agency Performance are: 

• collections development and management, including conservation 

• research across a wide range of disciplines 

• exhibition development, design and construction 

• education and public programs 

• community engagement and capacity building 

• event management 

• facilities management 

• publishing and documentary making 

• marketing and communications. 

[ AgENcY PERfORMANcE ] 

REPORT ON OPERATIONS 

The accumulated wealth of knowledge that resides in the museum’s collections and its staff across all of its 

sites represents an invaluable asset and resource belonging to the State of Western Australia. 

ABOVE: Western Australian Museum – Maritime: Photograph courtesy of Cox Howlett & Bailey Woodland Architects & Planners. 


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cOLLEcTIONS 

The Museum will strategically manage and strengthen the collections by acquiring faunal, geological and 

meteoritic specimens, and objects related to the social and maritime history of the state, for the benefit of 

current and future generations. 

The management and accessibility of the collections are fundamental to the Museum’s purpose, providing 

the ‘real objects’ that enable the unique stories of Western Australia to excite, inspire, educate and be 

experienced by visitors. 

cASE STUDY: NULLARBOR fOSSIL cAvES 

The latest ground breaking work on Australian megafauna found in caves on the Nullarbor Plain 

was published in January 2007 in the internationally, pre-eminent scientific journal, Nature. 

The article’s authors, led by Rio Tinto Research Fellow at The Western Australian Museum, 

Dr Gavin Prideaux, tracked the story of the chance discovery of three new caves, the contents 

of which palaeontologists describe as the find of the century. 

Small holes in the surface of the Nullarbor led a team of exploring cavers into a series of caverns 

containing the remains of an array of now-extinct animals, including giant wombats, short-faced 

kangaroos and thylacines. 

Eight of the 23 kangaroo species identified were entirely new to science, including an unusual 

wallaby with large ‘brow ridges’ and two tree-kangaroos, the modern relatives of which, ironically, 

now inhabit dense rain forests in tropical Australia and New Guinea. 

The caves also yielded the first complete skeleton of the extinct marsupial lion, Thylacoleo 

carnifex. 

Fossils from what have been dubbed the Thylacoleo 

Caves show that the Nullarbor was once home 

to birds and reptiles and at least 69 species of 

mammals, ranging from pint-sized bettongs to three 

metre giants. 

It also showed these ancient creatures thrived in a 

dry climate similar to that which exists today on the 

vast treeless plain in southern Australia. 

Researchers reconstructed the ancient Nullarbor 

environment from oxygen and carbon isotopes 

contained in the enamel of kangaroo and wombat 

teeth as well as from the modern geographic ranges 

of species in the fossil fauna still living today. 

Dr Gavin Prideaux with Thylacoleo skull. 

Photograph Clay Bryce. 

The study has significant implications for the debate 

over what finally drove the megafauna to extinction 

about 40,000 years ago. 

The authors argue that if the Nullarbor animals were 

well adapted to dry conditions for at least 400,000 

years before they disappeared, then it is unlikely they 

succumbed to Ice Age aridity. 

The Nature article led to six week’s sustained 

international, national and State media coverage, 

with Media Monitors reporting that more than six 

million Australians had an opportunity to read, see or 

hear of the discoveries. Science magazines including 

those in the UK, France, Mexico, Romania, Brazil, 

Germany and Italy wrote up the discoveries. The 

caves also featured on the front cover of the USA’s 

Time Magazine for Kids. 



First full skeleton of Thylacoleo carnifex was discovered 

in the fossil caves. Photograph Clay Bryce.

1. MANAgEMENT AND cONSERvATION – collections are managed and conserved in 

accordance with appropriate minimum standards and cultural requirements 

Maintain collection items in optimal conditions for their long term preservation 

The Maritime History Department added 3,514 new 

images and vessel arrivals to their database and the 

Maritime Archaeology Department recorded 836 new 

registrations, comprising 3,778 artefacts, and one new 

site, a Second World War submarine boom defence 

tower in Cockburn Sound that is protected under WA 

heritage legislation. 

In the past year, 283 items were loaned from the 

collection to national and international authorities. In 

addition, 18 maritime archaeology artefacts were sent 

for conservation and 71 conserved artefacts and 801 

conserved coins received. 

Museum staff moved the historically significant 

Aboriginal craftsmen-built pearling lugger Ancel from 

the Shipwrecks Galleries of the Maritime Museum to 

safe and secure storage at the Welshpool Collection and 

Research Centre (CRC) in 2006-07. 

The number of items in the 

collection at the time of the initial 

audit was about 3.9 million. 

This year 23,177 items have 

been added, partly through the 

outcomes of major marine and 

terrestrial surveys of the State’s 


fauna. For example, 5,798 marine 

specimens have been added to the 

Aquatic Zoology collection through 

expeditions with the CSIRO on the 

Southern Surveyor and 8,526 to the 

The History Department collection of furniture was re- Terrestrial Invertebrate collections 

organised on custom built, archival quality, Queensland 

from various surveys. 

hoop pine pallets, which are part of an integrated racking 

system for climate sensitive objects in the CRC. History 

collections items, including six horse-drawn vehicles, 

a large Thorneycroft truck and the pump and standing machinery collections, were also relocated from 

the Willetton Store to Welshpool, a total of 5,523 collection items. Concurrently, an Earth and Planetary 

Sciences collection of 6,000 items was also relocated. 

The relocation of all scientific staff and collections from the Perth site to the Welshpool CRC was completed 

with the move of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. All mineral, meteorite and Nullarbor 

cave material, including the State emblem Gogo fish fossils, the historic Tennant fossil collection, the 

Simpson Mineral collection and collections formerly belonging to the Government Chemical Laboratories, 

were relocated – a total of 30,376 mineral specimens and 15,000 meteorites and tektites with a total 

weight of about 40 tonnes. 

Sue Morrison, Collection Manager, Fish Department, curating some of the more than 5,700 marine specimens 

that have been added to the Museum’s Aquatic Zoology collection this year. Photograph Norman Bailey. 

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2. DEvELOPMENT – collections are developed to enable the museum to document 

and investigate western australia’s natural sciences, maritime heritage and social 

history 

cASE STUDY: NEW SPEcIES 

Western Australia’s biodiversity is recognised around the world for its vast numbers of species, 

particularly the global biodiversity hotspot in south-western Australia. 

Western Australian Museum staff members have been involved in a number of research projects 

documenting the WA fauna that have resulted in the discovery of 42 new species, which have now 

been formally described and named in the scientific literature. 

These include a new species of frog from the State’s Kimberley region. The Chattering Rock Frog, 

Litoria staccato, was named by Herpetology curator Dr Paul Doughty. It was discovered during new 

research into the frogs of the remote region. The Aloca Aluminum-funded Frog Watch research 

program covers a three year period, and additional new species of frogs have been discovered and 

are in the process of being described. 

New species of Kimberley frog, named Litoria Staccato 

for its unusual call. 

Photograph courtesy The WA Museum. 

Dr Paul Doughty with the first new member of the 

Taipan species to be described in 125 years. 


A new species of dragon lizard was discovered at Lake 

Disappointment. 


In addition, a beautiful new species of dragon 

lizard, found at Lake Disappointment, has now 

been described and published, as well as two 

new species of legless geckos, or ‘pygopod’ 

lizards, from the arid zone and Northwest 

Cape. 

Most spectacular was the discovery of a 

member of the world’s most venomous snakes, 

taipans. The newly described Central Ranges 

Taipan was found during a joint expedition 

between the Western Australian and South 

Australian Museums and the WA Department 

of Environment and Conservation to the Central 

Ranges near the borders of WA, SA and the 

Northern Territory. The field team worked closely 

with the Ngaanyatjarra people with funding 

provided by the Commonwealth Department of 

Environment and Heritage. 

It is more than 125 years since the last Taipan was 

described and the discovery made international 

headlines. 

This year, senior curator of Arachnology, Dr Mark 

Harvey, and research officer Karen Edward have 

described several species of pseudoscorpions – 

tiny creatures resembling a scorpion but lacking 

the long tail and sting – from northern Australia. 

Some were found in subterranean environments 

in the Pilbara and others from rainforest habitats 

in the Kimberley and Northern Territory. 

Research officer Volker Framenau described 

several new species of wolf spiders, including 

new genera and a new subfamily. Wolf spiders 

are abundant and important components of the 

biota in all terrestrial ecosystems. 

The discovery and description of new animal 

species provides land managers with scientific 

names to document the diversity of their regions 

as well as the tools to identify them accurately. 


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New collection items 

Museum curators conserve and acquire new items for the collections. In 2006–07 a number of important 

items were acquired including: 

• four Chinese fossils – a nest of dinosaur eggs, a cluster of two eggs and two fossil reptiles – were 

presented by the Federal Government to the Western Australian Minister for Culture and the Arts. 

• a slab of 280 million year old rock containing five large fossil brittlestars, representing two new genera, 

was donated by WA mining entrepreneur Mr Mark Creasy and is on display in the Diamonds to Dinosaurs 

Gallery, Perth site. 

• 21 cut and rough beryls (var. aquamarine) and a large slice of the Esquel pallasite were donated 

through the Tax Incentives for the Arts Scheme by Mr Creasy. 

• ‘Queen Little Judy’, a bricollage by Yamatji artist Brian McKinnon, was purchased with a WAM 

Foundation grant. The work resulted from the removal of McKinnon’s work ‘King Little Johnny’ from a 

NAIDOC 2006 exhibition in the Victorian House of Parliament, for being ‘too political’. 

• Women’s Business, a collection of fabrics, ‘dolls’ and supporting materials from FORM – Craftwest. 

• Martumilli new works – a group of woven baskets incorporating local grasses, purchased wools and 

found bits, including Fray Bentos cans. These are the first works of a Pilbara Desert community’s 

attempt to develop a sustainable art enterprise. 

• a camel saddle from the Carnegie Expedition, circa 1890. 

• a Labour of Love 2004, created by the nurses of the Woodside Maternity Hospital in response to its 

closure. 

• a Krupp Sonar fibreglass dome, donated and freighted to Fremantle courtesy of the Australian Army and 

Maersk Shipping Line. 

• a southern right whale skeleton and loggerhead turtle, donated by the Department of Environment and 

Conservation. 

• a Galapagos turtle, donated by Perth Zoo. 

• the Ray Rigby oological collection. 

Maritime archaeology 

Museum maritime archaeologists have identified the new, highly significant wreck site of the Persévérant, 

a French whaling vessel lost at Dirk Hartog Island in 1841. In addition, new research work on timbers 

from the Dutch ship Batavia proved that it was built from the same oak on which famous Flemish artists 

such as Rembrandt and Rubens painted their 17th century masterpieces. Tree-ring dating shows that 

Western Australia’s oldest ship timbers date back to seedlings growing in a Polish oak forest south of 

Danzig after 1324. 

Biodiversity and new species 

Research and field trips conducted by Museum scientists 

are providing crucial information on sustainability and 

biodiversity. Forty-two new animal species were described 

by museum scientists, including two fishes and 35 new 

terrestrial invertebrates, including spiders, pygmy mole 

crickets, scorpions and ostracods (microcrustaceans). In 

addition, expeditions to the Mitchell Plateau and Prince 

Regent River in the Kimberley discovered three new 

species of frogs. A new species of lizard was collected 

during a survey of the Anjo Peninsula in the Kimberley 

region and a new species of Taipan, the world’s most 

venomous snakes, was found in the Central Ranges region 

of Western Australia. 

Many marine species new to Western Australia or Australia 

were recorded during research partnerships including the 

National Heritage Trust funded Marine Futures between 

The WA Museum and the University of WA, and the 

Southern Surveyor deep water expedition with CSIRO. 



Research into the breeding biology of 

four species of endemic, endangered 

cockatoos is providing information 

for the conservation of these iconic 

species.

kNOWLEDgE 

Leadership in generating knowledge relating to an understanding of Western Australia’s natural, maritime 

and social history will be demonstrated by continuing to build on the Museum’s tradition of academic and 

scientific excellence. 

The Museum contributes to advancing knowledge nationally and internationally through publication of its 

research activities in a range of media, loaning items from its collections to national and international 

scholars and institutions and hosting local, national and international visiting scholars. 

The museum plays a vital role in training and mentoring the next generation of scientists and museum 

practitioners through the supervision of post-graduate and doctoral students, research grant staff and 

supporting tertiary museum and heritage studies programs. 

1. ScHOLARSHIP – researching and increasing our understanding of western 

australia’s people, land and sea, in a global context using the highest standards of 

scholarship 

1.1 Engage in research that contributes to the Museum’s strategic objectives 

Research 

The maritime historians continued to research the social, environmental and cultural impacts of illegal 

fishing in Australian territorial waters and the general development of the State’s fisheries, included pearling 

and shipbuilding and documenting the navy’s involvement in resource protection on the high seas. 

Continued documentation of watercraft is building a compendium of the State’s rare and unique cultural 

heritage. 

Aquatic Zoology staff partnered with Fisheries WA and the WA Herbarium (Department of Environment 

and Conservation) in a National Heritage Trust funded project on introduced marine pests, to produce a 

Technical Manual of Introduced Marine Pests in Western Australian Waters and a popular publication, 

Identification Guide of marine flora and fauna introduced into Western Australian waters. 

The world’s first evidence of the dynamic interaction of colonising marine organisms with submerged 

historic shipwrecks and aircraft was characterised by museum conservators. Evaluation of in-situ corrosion 

measurements and underwater survey techniques were modelled on the WWI submarine J5 in Bass Strait. 

This work is in preparation for an assessment of the WWI submarine AE2, an Australian submarine that 

played a pivotal role in the Gallipoli campaign, in the Sea of Marmara in Turkey. 

Terrestrial Vertebrate department staff surveyed the herpetofauna of the Houtman Abrolhos in conjunction 

with staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation and the University of Western Australia. 

Financial support for this work was provided by a WA Museum Foundation grant and a generous bequest to 

the Museum from the late Dr Denis King. 

The Terrestial Verterbrates senior curator was contracted as a biodiversity analyst for the biodiversity baseline 

survey of Sri Lanka. This was an ADB, World Bank GEF and Netherlands funded project to the Sri Lankan 

Department of Wildlife Conservation. 

Communication 

Staff of the Museum routinely provided advice to the 

public by responding to emails, letters and telephone 

calls regarding information on a wide variety of topics. 

They also provide information and advice to the 

Commonwealth and State governments on a range 

of issues, including threatened species and critical 

habitats and introduced terrestrial and marine animal 

species. 

Scientific staff identified and provided information 

for the Department of Environment and Conservation 

and various environmental consultancy companies on 

endemic and introduced terrestrial fauna from various 

localities in the State including various Kimberley, 

Pilbara, Murchison and Great Southern localities. 

Private sector organisations such as 

environmental and mining companies 



consult with the museum over a range of 

issues dealing with fauna distribution and 

management. 

Staff provided detailed identifications 

of fauna specimens submitted for 

identification to allow managers to assess 

the impacts from potential developments.

Scientific staff also provided expert advice on introduced marine pests to various state and commonwealth 

departments, including state fisheries departments, the Australian Navy and the Australian Quarantine 

Inspection Service (AQIS), resource companies including Woodside Energy Ltd, INPEX and CHEVRON, and 

consultancy companies involved in marine developments in Western Australia associated with the oil and 

gas industry. Identifications of imported aquarium fishes were also provided for AQIS. 

A survey on the Anjo Peninsula in the Kimberley region by experts from the Museum, the WA Department 

of Environment and Conservation, consultants and universities together with the Kimberley Land Council, 

assisted in training more than 30 members of Aboriginal communities from the Kimberley in sampling and 

identification skills. 

A WA Museum-led joint expedition with the South Australian Museum and the WA Department of Environment 

and Conservation to the country of the Ngaanyatjarra people in the Central Ranges of Western Australia, was 

the first comprehensive survey of the region and resulted in the discovery of a new species of Taipan, the 

world’s most venomous snakes. 

1.2 To contribute to the sustainable development of the state and its resources by providing 

advice to government and the private sector on biodiversity and culturally significant areas 

– including under – water cultural heritage. 

Throughout the year, Museum staff provided 475 responses to requests for information from government 

and the private sector on biodiversity and culturally significant issues. 

Input from the Museum’s expert staff was provided for key government initiatives including: 

• the State of the Environment Report, identifying the most important environmental issues facing 

Western Australia as well as the present condition of the environment. 

• The 100-year Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, in which the Museum has been closely involved 

with relevant research and education that has contributed to the recovery and conservation of our 

biodiversity over the past 100 years and where it has a clear role in the plan for the next 100 years. 

• the Earth Science of WA (ESWA) Consortium, which was launched by the Federal Government. 

The Museum is represented on the ESWA board, which aims to promote geoscience education. 

• The Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI). 

Museum staff members sit on a number of boards and panels advising on biodiversity and culturally significant 

issues. For example, the Museum provided comment on proposed national heritage listings and coordinated 

the response on the following, now listed, national heritage sites - Batavia shipwreck site and survivor camps 

area 1629, Houtman Abrolhos, WA Dirk Hartog landing site 1616 and the Cape Inscription area. Another site 

listed in 2006 that the museum provided comment on was the former Fremantle Prison site. 

The Museum is represented on the Aboriginal Cultural Materials Committee (ACMC), with anthropology staff 

attending meetings and participating in discussions regarding 84 development applications for permission 

to disturb Aboriginal heritage sites, leading to recommendations to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and 49 

compliance reports or other correspondence items requiring committee advice. 

The Museum’s sustainability expert continued to provide advice to a number of projects and initiatives; for 

example, the formulation of a sustainability framework as a member of the Plastics and Chemicals Industry 

Association (PACIA) Community Advisory Committee, which is comprised of the major chemical companies 

and a majority of the plastics industry in Australia. 

1.3 To contribute to the management and sustainability of the state’s environment by undertaking 

taxonomic systemic and biographic research of the state’s natural environment 

In 2006–07 the Museum undertook 90 research projects and 63 field trips in order to increase our knowledge 

of the State’s natural and maritime history, thereby contributing to the management and sustainability of the 

State’s environment. 

Forty-two new animal species were identified, including many new terrestrial invertebrates such as 

spectacular new creatures living in underground fissures throughout the arid zone of Western Australia. The 

discovery of many species never before collected or reported highlights the incomplete knowledge of the 

terrestrial invertebrate fauna of Western Australia. 

Fieldwork in remote parts of the Yilgarn region and a research site near Leonora provided an insight into the 

restricted distribution of the subterranean aquatic animals inhabiting aquifers (stygofauna). This has assisted 

in providing better information and advice to agencies and companies involved in resource development in 

the mineral rich greenstone belts of this region. 


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Applied conservation research continued towards the improved conservation treatment of artefacts and the 

in-situ management of marine archaeological sites, such as that of the James Matthews. Staff also continued 

their involvement in the international Reburial and Analyses of Archaeological Remains project, research that 

will assist in the long-term preservation of Western Australian shipwreck sites. 

In 2006–07 the museum published 92 peer-reviewed publications. Publications by staff from the Collections 

and Content Division provided the necessary background data for the resource sector, which is seeking 

permission to develop resource projects in many regions of the State, and regulatory authorities, such as the 

Environmental Protection Agency, to assess whether the development is likely to pose a significant threat to 

indigenous Western Australian species. 

Expert staff were also invited participants in a number of industry and government workshops dealing with 

environmental issues pertinent to the establishment of onshore or offshore facilities by the hydrocarbon 

industry in the Kimberley region and mining and the environment in the Pilbara region. 

2. PARTNERSHIPS – the museum will seek ongoing research partnerships and 

collaborations with other government agencies, universities, the private sector, 

other research institutions, as well as museums nationally and internationally 

2.1 The Museum will engage in research partnerships that contribute to the museum’s strategic 

objectives, generating knowledge used by the Museum, government, the private sector, 

other research institutions and the community 

cASE STUDY MAWSON’S HUT 

Dr Ian Godfrey, head of the Museum’s Conservation Department, led a three-month expedition to carry 

out preservation work on the historically significant Mawson’s Huts at Cape Denison in the Australian 

Antarctic Territory, between October 2006 to early January 2007. 

As team leader of the group, which comprised carpenters, biologists, meteorologists and chemists, Dr 

Godfrey successfully integrated all the issues associated with managing people in one of the world’s most 

hostile physical environments. Dr Godfrey’s task was to ensure the team’s safety, morale and general 

wellbeing while overseeing a comprehensive work plan to be completed in a limited time frame. 

As a specialist in cultural heritage management, Dr Godfrey removed old corrosion monitoring cells, 

replacing them with new ones, and collected microbiological samples for analysis in Australia. Through 

his work, artefacts formerly embedded in ice were excavated. The expedition completed documenting 

and upgrading the environmental equipment at the site and worked on a re-roofing project. Dr Godfrey’s 

work has lead to increased understanding of the effects of low temperatures and high humidity on 

artefact preservation. 

The work was conducted under taxing physical conditions and the publicity generated by The WA 

Museum’s participation in this project has enhanced the institution’s standing with respect to the 

conservation of one of Australia’s iconic heritage sites. 

Dr Godfrey has been asked to lead the next stage of the project which involves developing plans for 

further ice-snow excavation and the conservation treatment of exposed artefacts. 

Dr Ian Godfrey led the team involved in vital restoration work on the huts built by Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas 

Mawson at Commonwealth Bay. Photograph courtesy The WA Museum. 


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Research Partnerships 

Staff from the Museum’s Collection and Content Development and Collection Management Divisions 

conducted 90 different research projects,of which 47 were funded by external organisations such as other 

State Government departments, Commonwealth agencies, international agencies and the private sector. 

They continued to form partnerships with external agencies on a wide range of environmental issues and 

have been successful in being awarded research grants from prestigious granting agencies. Examples of 

research projects and partnerships are as follows: 

• work on new species of Australasian wolf spiders is clarifying their distributions and allowing other 

researchers to accurately identify the species. Research on the Australian orb-weaving spiders, will 

help unravel the composition and relationships of these ubiquitous animals found right throughout 

Australia. 

• research on the Australian scorpion fauna is contributing to a sustainable future for the environment 

by highlighting unusual elements of the fauna, describing numerous new species. Work on the shortrange 

endemic fauna of southern Western Australia, will guide government agencies on the species-rich 

areas along the south coast. Research, on the tiny spiders of the family Oonopidae will significantly 

contribute to a global project funded by the US National Science Foundation devoted to these fascinating 

animals. 

• the documentation of the inland Ostracoda of Australia, including the extremely diverse nature of the 

freshwater ostracod microcrustaceans of Western Australia, was completed through funding from the 

Department of Environment and Heritage. A substantive monographs of copepod micro-crustaceans of 

Australian sandy beaches, funded by the Australian Biological Resources Study, was competed. 

• The WA Museum funded the visit of Dr Ibnu Maryanto of the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense (MZB) 

to facilitate the sorting and repatriation of the ZMB share of specimens from a joint WA Museum/ ZMB 

survey of the islands of Eastern Indonesia. 

• collaborative international research into the treatment of acid-affected, formerly waterlogged ships 

timbers from the Batavia and Vasa will allow best preservation strategies to be adopted for the iconic 

Batavia display. Work undertaken on Norfolk Island on artefacts from the Sirius shipwreck and in-situ 

corrosion studies undertaken on World War II Japanese wrecks in Chuuk, an Earthwatch Foundation 

project, will assist in the development of conservation management plans for steel shipwrecks and 

aluminium aircraft in Western Australian waters. 

• the Department of Maritime Archaeology liaised with a number of government departments, including 

the WA Department of Environment and Conservation on the Dirk Hartog management plan, and 

shipwreck sites, the WA Heritage Council regarding the Port Gregory whaling station and the Cockburn 

Sound Second World War submarine boom defence tower, and the Department of Planning and 

Infrastructure on archaeological sites governed by the Maritime Archaeology Act. 

• Collaborative projects with the Department of Agriculture and Food and Murdoch University to examine 

the potential role of vertebrate animals in the spread of weeds and other undesirable plants, provided 

expertise, collection access and student supervision. 

3. cOMMUNIcATION – the museum will share the knowledge gained through scholarship 

and raise the profile of museum’s research nationally and internationally 

3.1 Make knowledge accessible in a range of forms and for a range of audiences 

In 2006–07 Museum experts produced: 

• 92 peer reviewed research publications 

• 35 reports, conference papers and popular articles published in 2006-07 

Further examples of the many other forms of museum communications and range of audiences are detailed 

following: 

Databases 

The Museum’s Maritime History Department’s research database documents shipping records for the ports 

of Fremantle and Albany. 

More than 5,810 new vessel arrivals have been entered and matched with vessel details and histories. 

Some 2,024 new vessels were identified, researched and the details recorded and 3,378 new images were 

catalogued and entered into the database. The database also supports the supports the Welcome Walls 

Project, Stage Three. 


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Documentaries and film 

The WA Museum’s documentary Bone Diggers – Mystery of a Lost Predator, was created in conjunction with 

Storyteller Media Group and featured the work of the Museum’s Earth and Planetary Sciences Department 

on fossil marsupials from the Nullarbor Caves. 

The documentary was launched and broadcast nationwide. The documentary was later on-sold to American 

science network NOVA where it screened to an audience of about 1.5 million. It is also a finalist in its 

category for the national 25 th annual Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM) awards for film, television, 

animation and multimedia. 

The work of the Department of Maritime Archaeology was again featured in the second series of the 

Shipwreck Detectives, which screened nationally on ABC-TV in 2007. 

In addition, the Museum was involved in the creation of Prospero Productions’ Pipe Dreams, a docu-drama 

on the life of C.Y. O’Connor. The Museum gave permission for Samson House in Fremantle to be used as 

one of the locations for the production. Pipe Dreams was filmed as part of the celebrations for the 75th 

anniversary of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and was screened nationally by the ABC. 

Active press and radio campaigns promoted Museum public programs, for example Cockatoo Care, a joint 

initiative of The Western Australian Museum and Water Corporation, aiding the survival of endangered 

cockatoos in WA’s southwest. 

Workshops, lectures and websites 

Museum staff conducted a variety of workshops including: 

• Building Frog-friendly Gardens workshops, 

organised and run by the Department of 

Terrestrial Vertebrates staff as part of the 

Alcoa Frog Watch public program. 

• preventive conservation workshops for 

members of the public and students as 

part of The Western Australian Museum- 

Edith Cowan University Certificate Course in 

Museum Studies. 

• four workshops in Sri Lanka on specimen 

collection, and curation and biodiversity 

data evaluation and analysis, for national 

consultants and staff of the Sri Lankan 

Department of Wildlife Conservation. 

Museum web-sites including Frog Watch, Maritime Archaeology, Cockatoo Care websites and The WA 

Museum elicited many thousands of ‘hits’. 

In addition: 

• staff of the Conservation Department prepared many objects and manufactured/fitted mannequins for 

the museum’s Howzat! cricket exhibition. 

• more than 800 silver coins from the Correo da Azia wreck were treated and made available for further 

archaeological research and eventual public display. 

• expert museum staff presented 184 lectures and 

presentations, on a variety of topics, including 

the in-situ preservation of shipwreck sites, 

taxonomy and nomenclature, subterranean 

biology, rock art heritage management and 

Nullarbor research. 

\ 

The Alcoa Frog Watch program is one of many run by the 

Museum in partnership with the private sector. 


A partnership between The WA Museum 

and the Department of Environment and 

Conservation is integrating WA Museum 

terrestrial vertebrate data into NatureMap, 

the publicly accessible common portal. 


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4. TRAININg – the museum will support the training and mentoring of the next generation 

of scientists and museum practitioners 

4.1 Support the training through post graduate and doctoral students supervised by museum staff 

Expert staff supervised 13 PhD students from various universities including the University of Western 

Australia, the Australian National University and Adelaide University. Post-doctoral students, including 

one from the National University of Singapore, examined museum collections where a new crab species 

was discovered. Maritime Archaeology staff conducted three Nautical Archaeology Society courses, two in 

Western Australia for 16 students and one in Taiwan for 25. 

4.2 Support the training of future museum practitioners 

Museum scientific staff supervised and examined industry practicum students from Murdoch University’s 

school of environmental sciences. Various staff members also presented lectures and conducted workshops 

as part of The Western Australian Museum-Edith Cowan University Certificate Course in Museum Studies. 

Conservation staff trained technical divers in in-situ corrosion measurements on the J5 submarine wreck in 

Bass Strait for the Submarine Institute of Australia. 

Trainee Technical Officers Jenny Hutchins and Oliver Gomez working with specimens from the Woodside Collection. 


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ExPERIENcES 

Exhibitions and programs will be educational, engaging, inspiring and informative experiences. They will 

be developed and built using international best practice, based on scholarship and research and informed 

by community interest. 

Public programs and exhibitions will provide opportunities for discovery, inquiry, debate, reflection and 

contemplation. They will be dynamic, combining contemporary practices, including the latest new media 

technologies, with the best educational and communication techniques. Engaging and innovative public 

programs will encourage multiple visits to museum sites both metropolitan and regional 

New and exciting retail, hospitality and special event experiences will be created to enliven and enhance the 

visitor experience of The Western Australian Museum’s sites. 

With the development of a new museum for Perth, new architectural and design experiences will embody 

the principles of environmental sustainability and innovation. The new museum will be a premier attraction, 

a tourist destination in its own right. It will represent an entry point to Western Australia, introducing the 

state, the people, their stories and our natural heritage. 

Engaging and interpretive experiences offered through the museum’s website will generate virtual visitors 

ensuring the museum’s collections and programs are accessible across the state and internationally. 

cASE STUDY Howzat!: western australians and CriCket 

The exhibition, developed to coincide with the tour of the Ashes urn in Australia, was a highlight of 

the year. This was an engaging exhibition about cricket in Western Australia in its broadest sense. 

Museum curators from History and Anthropolgy worked with Exhibition and Design, Marketing 

and Education staff to develop the content, identify and collect the large number of objects 

required to stage this major exhibition. 

More than two hundred rare and significant cricketing items were borrowed for the exhibition, 

including Bob Hawke’s school cricket bat and the bat Kim Hughes hit his player of the match 

winning century in the 1980 Centennial Test. The exhibition covered every aspect of the game – 

school cricket, social cricket, women’s cricket, beach and backyard cricket. It included interactive 

components where visitors could play backyard cricket, commentate a cricket match and dress 

up as cricket legends. Information and exhibition objects were obtained from past and present 

players including Graham McKenzie, Dennis Lillee, Kim Hughes and Adam Gilchrist, and sporting 

commentators Glenn Mitchell and the late Wally Foreman, as well as local cricket enthusiasts. 

More than 11,000 people visited the exhibition at the Perth site and the Museum will now tour the 

Howzat! exhibition to Kalgoorlie in September 2007 and Albany in December 2007. 

History Department senior curator Stephen Anstey shows Premier Alan Carpenter and Minister for Culture and the 

Arts Sheila M c Hale some of the highlights of the Museum’s exhibition Howzat! Western Australians and Cricket. 



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1. ENgAgEMENT – the public’s engagement with the museum through its research, 

collections, exhibitions, education, and life long learning programs and events will 

be relevant to the community, educational, topical and engaging 

1.1 To build a new museum that will be a centre of excellence, innovation and quality experiences, 

with a whole of organisation focus on visitor services 

Work continued on the development of the detailed business case arguing the need for a new museum in 

Western Australia. 

Strong economic growth in the State has created an exceptional opportunity to build a much needed new 

museum – an opportunity to build cultural infrastructure for the next hundred years 

The closure of the Francis Street building due to an ongoing unacceptable risk of asbestos contamination 

has resulted in insufficient exhibition space at the existing Perth site – two major galleries were closed, 

substantially reducing exhibition space. The remaining buildings provide limited scope for presenting 

contemporary and engaging exhibitions and public programs. 

Welcoming people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, a new museum will be a doorway to the whole of the State. 

A new museum would tell the extraordinary stories of ordinary West Australians. These stories will be told 

alongside the stories of exceptional West Australians. These could be the stories of sporting greats, rural 

families, leaders in the fields of for example medicine or teaching and great inventors. 

1.2 Develop exhibitions that are diverse, interactive and exciting which will maximise flexibility 

to encourage repeat visitation 

THe WeSTeRn AuSTRAlIAn MuSeuM exHIbITIOnS 1 July 2006 – 30 June 2007 

exhibition loaning Institution Site Dates 

Policeman’s Eye South Australian Museum Albany 13/07/06 – 3/09/07 

The Invisible Dutch Nonja Pieter Albany 26/09/06 – 20/10/06 

ANZANG ANZANG Albany 30/11/06 – 28/01/07 

Emblems Mix Artists – PIAF, Albany Albany 9/02/07 – 11/03/07 

Baudin WA Museum Albany Eclipse 1/05/07 – 20/05/07 

Escape! Fremantle to Freedom Fremantle Prison Albany 1/06/07 – 22/07/07 

Right Wrongs, Write Yes! 1967 Referendum WA Museum Albany 27/5/07 – 26/08/07 

The Invisible Dutch Nonja Pieter Fremantle History – CAG 22/05/06 – 30/09/06 

World Without Polio Rotary Australia Fremantle History – CAG 21/10/06 – 23/02/07 

Harmony Day Senior High Schools 

Photographic Competition 

Fremantle Families – The Masters & Burtons 

(one showcase) 

The Invention of Television WA Museum 

Clarion Gold WA Museum 

Bubbles of Light – The evolution of the light 

globe 

Office of Multicultural Affairs Fremantle History – CAG 22/03/07 – 18/06/07 

Community Access Fremantle History – Foyer 25/08/06 – 31/08/07 

WA Museum 

FHM – Light and Sound 

Discovery Centre 


Discovery Centre 


Discovery 


17/07/06 – 1/11/06 

18/11/06 – 31/03/07 

1/04/07 – 31/07/07 

ANZANG ANZANG Geraldton 30/06/06 – 3/09/06 

Festival Flashbacks WA Museum Geraldton 23/09/06 – 3/12/06 

Geraldton Camera Club GCC – Community Access Geraldton 15/12/06 – 7/01/07 

Escape! Fremantle to Freedom Fremantle Prison Geraldton 13/01/07 – 25/03/07 

Clem Burns Heritage Award WA Museum Geraldton 20/5/07 – 15/06/07 

Right Wrongs, Write Yes! 1967 Referendum WA Museum Geraldton 

27/05/2007 

– 26/08/07 

ANZANG ANZANG Geraldton 19/06/07 – 28/08/07 

ANZANG ANZANG Kalgoorlie 2/02/07 – 22/04/07 

Right Wrongs, Write Yes! 1967 Referendum WA Museum Kalgoorlie 27/05/07 – 26/08/07 

Captured in Colour – Rare Photographs from 

the First World War 

Australian War Memorial 

Australia Under Attack Australian War Memorial 

Spare Puppets Public Program Public Program 


Fremantle Maritime 

– TEG 


– TEG 


– TEG 

12/05/06 – 2/07/06 

1/12/06 – 28/01/07 

10/04/07 – 21/04/07

ANZANG ANZANG Perth TEG 22/09/06 – 29/10/06 

The Ashes MCC and Cricket Australia Perth TEG 10/12/06 – 20/12/07 

Howzat! Western Australians and Cricket WA Museum Perth TEG 10/12/06 – 18/03/07 

Pictures of a Changing Climate DPC and DEC Perth TEG 30/03/07 – 29/04/07 

Hot Spots Art on the Move Perth TEG 4/05/07 – 3/06/07 

National Treasures from Australia’s Great 

Libraries 

National Library of Australia Perth TEG 29/06/07 – 26/08/07 

Youth Theatre Undone Perth Hackett Hall 12/09/06 – 17/09/06 

Awesome Awesome Perth Hackett Hall 18/11/06 – 28/11/06 

Camera Obscura Ian Weir Perth Hackett Hall 4/05/07 – 10/06/07 

Right Wrongs, Write Yes! 1967 Referendum WA Museum 

Perth Katta Djinoong 

Community Access Area 


27/05/07 – 26/08/07 

On a smaller scale a display of the Argyle Diamonds pink diamond collection was launched in the Diamonds 

to Dinosaurs gallery in October 2006. Several hundred guests hosted by Rio Tinto (Argyle Diamonds) 

and the Museum Foundation attended the event, which was launched by the Minister for Culture and the 

Arts, and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The permanent diamond case is sponsored by mining 

entrepreneur Mark Creasy and has proved a popular attraction. The several hundred pink diamonds on show 

are the largest number on public display in Australia. 

1.3 Develop and deliver education and life long learning programs that interpret and enhance 

the museum’s exhibitions, collections and research that meet the needs and expectations 

of schools and the community 

The Museum’s seven public sites develop and deliver education and life-long learning programs throughout 

the year. Details are reported against each . In 2006-07, 55,271 children visited a Museum site. 

Museum staff members from Aquatic Zoology and Education presented a hands-on activity on how to identify 

marine animals for teachers at the Seaweek Educators’ Expo in March, 2007. The teachers welcomed the 

session as they were shown how these activities could be hands-on for students in a classroom setting. 

In addition Museum Education staff members are on the reference panel assisting the Curriculum Council 

to develop the Maritime History and Archaeology unit of the Maritime Technologies Course of Study for Year 

11 and 12 students. The Maritime Course of Study is now being trialed in schools and is the only course in 

Australia to offer Year 11 and 12 students the chance to study Maritime History and Archaeology. Museum 

Education staff are developing extensive resources to support teachers who are new to this field of study, 

which will be introduced in 2008. 

1.4 To provide an exciting program of events that interpret exhibitions or other areas of the 

museum’s work 

The Museum coordinates a successful public program lecture series Museum@Work at Albany, Perth and 

Geraldton sites and the Batavia Lecture series at Fremantle. 

The Museum hosted 13 exhibition opening functions and two functions for special events. 

In addition in July, August and September 2006 the History Department provided objects from the collection 

that featured on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation series, Can We Help. 

1.5 Provide the community with access to the museum’s collections and other resources online 

The Museum’s website www.museum.wa.gov.au continued to present information about each of the 

museum’s public sites; scientific research and public programs. 

In addition Maritime History staff provided assistance and advice to the Australian National Maritime Museum 

staff regarding the development of the Australian National Register of Historic Vessels as a collaborative 

project with The Western Australian Museum. 

The website, Marine Life of the Dampier Archipelago, went live in June 2007. This resource provides the 

results of department’s marine biodiversity survey of the Dampier Archipelago in a widely accessible format. 

The website also provides general information about the marine flora and fauna and major habitats of the 

Archipelago. Included in the website are educational activities incorporating real-life examples and data 

derived from the survey. These activities will be showcased at an international education conference in July 

2007. Great progress has also been made in regard to developing further material to be included in the 

site. This additional material includes images of species observed during the survey and further information 

concerning the biology of the organisms studied 

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2. AUDIENcE – to be an inviting and inclusive place for visitors of all age, backgrounds 

and abilities that meets the needs and expectations of local, national and 

international visitors 

2.1 To maximize visitation to the Museum’s eight public sites 

COMPARATIVe ATTenDAnCe FIGuReS 2005 – 2006 AnD 2007– 2008 

The Western Australian Museum - Perth 

Public School Groups Totals 

2006 – 2007 274,518 20,233 294,751 

2005 – 2006 273,025 18,592 291,617 

Maritime Museum Victoria Quay and Submarine 


2005 – 2006 163,738 17,351 181,089 



2005 – 2006 145,716 10,970 156,686 

Fremantle History Museum and Samson House 


2005 – 2006 29,974 3,422 33,396 

The Western Australian Museum – Albany 


2005 – 2006 70,513 1,981 72,494 

The Western Australian Museum – Geraldton 


2005 – 2006 40,314 2,710 43,024 

The Western Australian Museum – Kalgoorlie 


2005 – 2006 77,668 1,587 79,255 

The Western Australian Museum Annual Totals 


2005 – 2006 800,948 56,613 857,561 

The Western Australian Museum – Albany 

The Albany site continues to enjoy strong public response to its range of innovative public programs linked to 

exhibitions, the State collection and museum research. Over the past year, the Museum has focused on the 

central themes of living in a biodiversity hotspot, Museum forensics and endangered species, highlighting 

museum research and the benefits of curatorial work the community. 

Science Week 2006 incorporated lectures and workshops based on forensic work done by museum curators 

with some 830 children and adults taking part. 

The Active Ageing – Museum@Work Lecture Series, funded by the Department of Local Government and 

Regional Development, proved popular with the community. The lectures and associated workshops covered 

topics ranging from Megafauna finds on the Nullarbor Plain to conservation work on Mawson’s Hut in the 

Antarctic. The lectures attracted audiences of between 250 to 300. 


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The Museum’s MiniMuses sessions were specifically designed to introduce native fauna through game, 

story, specimens and activities for junior visitors and their carers. These programs quickly attracted a strong 

audience with bookings now months ahead. The last of the series was repeated four times to cater to the 

strong interest. 

The Museum’s beach days were also popular with strong followings in smaller regional centres. The last 

beach day held at Bremer Bay Beach attracted more than 100 participants – some traveled for more than 

two hours to join in. 

Other highlights included: 

• EMBLEMS of Belonging: As part of the Perth 

International Arts Festival – Great Southern 

Program, the Museum collaborated with local 

contemporary artists group, Mix Artists, to 

develop an exhibition exploring artistic responses 

to objects and artefacts from the State collection. 

• the Museum developed and delivered new 

and innovative Aboriginal culture programs in 

partnership with the Albany Aboriginal Reference 

Group. 

• Aboriginal stories and cultural aspects have been 

incorporated into school holiday programs such 

as the Museum’s Australian Megafauna program 

and MiniMuses. 

• the Indigenous Bush Tucker and Traditional 

Weavers Garden has been completed in 

partnership with Indigenous tourism students from 

the Great Southern College of TAFE. Programs 

using this resource have been developed with 

the assistance of museum staff and link into local 

Aboriginal heritage trails and walks. 

• Museum Education staff developed and delivered 

a special program for an Islamic school in which 

they were able to explore parallel stories of 

Gallipoli. 

The Western Australian Museum – Fremantle History 


WHAT OUR VISITORS SAID: 

“Great day – Thank you! It is so good 

to have something like this in our town. 

The kids had a ball and I learnt a lot too. 

Thanks to the museum staff who know 

how to mix fun and learning. Can’t wait 

for next year, see you then” 

Katie – Bremer Bay. 

“Our year three classes loved Dr 

Deacon’s talk and had a great time 

making the fossil link in the activity 

afterwards. Thanks to the museum staff 

for organizing a great day. We will be 

back.” Year Three Teachers Kate and Sarah 

Yakamia Primary School. 

The Museum’s Fremantle History site continued its popular program of school holiday activities including: 

• Bubbles of Light – the evolution of the light globe 

• Lighting up History 

• Darksuckers and the theory of dark 

New building conservation work was recently completed and the pediments restoration was undertaken by 

heritage architects and managed by the City of Fremantle. 

More than 4,000 students attended Education programs in 2006 – 07. A new program Snapshots of History 

was developed in 2007, unlocking the secrets of The Western Australian Museum - Fremantle History with 

an interactive tour that answers all the frequently asked questions. Students hunt for mystery snapshots and 

take virtual photos along the way to share with their classmates. 

The Museum also continued its popular programs at The Light and Sound Discovery Centre offering more 

than 20 education programs, presented by science educator and Honorary Associate Richard Rennie. 

A number of existing programs have been modified to cater for younger audiences. For example, a junior 

version of the post-war immigration program Suitcase Stories has been developed. A New Place to Call 

Home was trialled in early 2007 and bookings for this new program have begun. 

The Western Australian Museum – Fremantle History caters for groups of students and adults with physical 

and intellectual disabilities. These programs are either adapted versions of existing programs or tailor-made 

programs for the groups concerned. For example, in May 2007, a tailor-made program on the WA Gold Rush 

was run for Gwynne Park Education Support Centre. 

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The Western Australian Museum – Geraldton 

The Western Australian Museum – Geraldton continues to develop and deliver a wide range of education 

programs, school holiday programs and activities for the region’s schools. Fifty-four education programs 

were delivered across the four school terms and were attended by 1472 students. The Escape! Fremantle 

to Freedom exhibition education program (Jan – Mar 2007) was sold out and attended by over 700 

children. About 500 children attended 23 school holiday programs which ranged from megafauna to gold 

prospecting. Closer ties with the Geraldton camp school management has resulted in an increase of camp 

school bookings for education programs. Outreach visits included Mt Magnet and Carnarvon. 

Public lectures – Telstra Countrywide and Musem@ 

work 

The Museum – Geraldton held a series of 10 lectures 

through the year featuring staff members speaking on 

their work, including Dampier rock art, astronomical 

influence on climate change, conservation work on 

Mawson’s Hut in the Antarctic and the State’s marine 

life. 

Audiences were also able to hear lectures by Emory 

University Professor Gay Robins from Atlanta Georgia 

on ancient Egypt. 

The Museum also presented an exhibition to coincide 

with the annual Geraldton Greenough Sunshine Festival 

in 2006. Festival Flashbacks provided the opportunity 

for the Museum to take a more active role in the festival, 

including hosting the finale on Museum grounds. The 

success of this initiative has led to a similar Festival 

themed exhibition being prepared for 2007–08. 

The Museum continues to support key community 

groups such as the Cancer Support Group by providing a 

meeting room for their meetings through the Museum’s 

community access policy. 

In addition, the Museum provides support to the Midwest 

chapter of Museums Australia, one of the largest and 

most active chapters in Western Australia. 

The Western Australian Museum – Kalgoorlie 


WHAT OUR VISITORS SAID: 

“Fantastic. Came for 10 mins, stayed 

for two hours.” 

(Visitors from Northern Ireland) 

WA Museum textiles conservator Ulli Broeze-Hoernemann 

at work on the historic Kalgoorlie union banners. 


The Museum hosted travelling exhibitions this year as well as creating two local exhibitions based on the 

Kalgoorlie collection. 

These included travelling exhibitions, ANZANG photographic exhibition and Right Wrongs, Write Yes! 1967 

Referendum and the Museum-developed 1900s Home entertainment and Kalgoorlie-Boulder Museum 

Treasures. 

The museum provides two daily tours to visitors and recently developed a new tour was developed for the 

Ethnobotanic garden about Aboriginal peoples’ use of plants for food, medicine, tools and ceremony. The 

Museum participates in local events and the Dennis fire engine and prospector’s Land Rover were included 

in St Barbara’s Parade. Students from the Kalgoorlie Education Support Centre are regular visitors and 

museum staff hosted a welcome barbecue for the students and their families in January. 

A number of international film groups visited Kalgoorlie this year, including crews from Ireland and the USA 

filmed on the Museum site, focusing on the gold collection and the story of Paddy Hannan, and US President 

Herbert Hoover’s story, including his life in Kalgoorlie. 

Kalgoorlie’s valuable record of trade unionism is epitomized by its Trade Union Banners and the Museum’s 

four banners were cleaned and conserved during the year by Conservation staff. Conservation team also 

worked on a diving suit for the Shire of Coolgardie that was used in the 1907 mine rescue and displayed at 

the Varischetti Centenary. 

The Museum provides substantial support to local museums and historical associations in the region, including 

the Coolgardie Museum and the Eastern Goldfields Family History Society in the form of professional advice, 

reference texts and loan of objects. The Museum participates with Museums Australia and regularly hosts 

events for the Eastern Goldfields chapter of the association. 

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The Western Australian Museum – Maritime 

This year the Maritime site successfully focused 

on developing engaging public programs to attract 

repeat visitation to the museum. A Memorandum of 

Understanding was signed with Spare Parts Puppet 

Theatre in 2006 for a series of school holiday 

performances and puppet workshops. These included: 

• October 2006: Aquasapiens: September – a season 

of wandering performers through the Museum. 

• January 2007: North West Shipping Theatre season 

of Blueback, based on Tim Winton’s novel. 

• April 2007. Mary Surefoot’s Shoe Collection – a 

performance piece especially commissioned for 

The Western Australian Museum, which drew 

on the Museum’s History Department’s shoe 

collection. Performances held in the Temporary 

Exhibition Gallery in a specially designed set as 

well as workshops attended by 668 people. 

It is intended to tour Mary Surefoot’s Shoe Collection to 

other Western Australian Museum sites 

The Western Australian Museum 

– Maritime celebrated its one 

millionth visitor on Mother’s Day, 

2007. More than 1,600 visitors 

attended the museum and the 

program included live music, 

theatre performances, film, craft, 

giveaways and other activities. 

The Western Australian Museum – Maritime hosted to the National ICOMOS Conference Launch in 2006 

and the National Archaeology Week celebrations in May 2007. National Archaeology Week program 

included lectures, workshops, tours and education programs at both the Maritime Museum and Shipwreck 

Galleries. 

Ten lectures where held in the popular Batavia Lecture series with an average attendance of 160 per lecture. 

Several new school programs were developed, and existing programs modified to cater for the early childhood 

sector. Junior versions of the popular Don’t Rock the Boat and About Boats programs were developed. 

A second Puss in Boats program for the Maritime Museum is being created. 

The Sustainable Seas school program invites students from Year 4 to 10 hear, describe and discuss 

different viewpoints in relation to issues such as pategonian toothfish piracy, sustainable management of 

the lobster fishery, illegal Indonesian fishing, aquaculture, sustainable aboriginal fishing practices, impact 

of advances in fishing technology, ballast water and quarantine issues, whaling and eco-tourism and Swan 

River ecology. The program is linked as an excursion destination to the Department of Education and 

Training’s Sustainable Schools Program. 

Museum CEO Dr Dawn Casey welcomed the Millionth visitor to the Maritime Museum on Mothers’ Day when the Brzich 

and Braganza family took the visitor numbers to 1,000,005. Photograph courtesy WA Museum. 


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The Western Australian Museum – Perth 

The Western Australian Museum – Perth was a 

forum for community engagement on key issues 

this year, in particular climate change and Aboriginal 

reconciliation. The Pictures of a Changing Climate 

exhibition developed by Department of Environment 

and Conservation with the Department of Premier 

and Cabinet, showcased images from around the 

world and Western Australia that document the 

impacts of climate change on communities and 

landscapes. The Museum also displayed fossils 

and artefacts from its own collections showing the 

deep time history of climate change in this State. 

A special display of megafauna skeletal material 

found in the caves in the Nullabor was a major 

feature at the Museum in Perth in early 2007. For 

the first time remains of new species of kangaroo 

and wallaby were displayed with the latest research 

linking climate change to the demise of the 

megafauna. 

The Museum also recognised the 40 th anniversary 

of the 1967 Referendum which changed the 

Constitution to enable Aboriginal people to be 

counted in the national census and to be subject 

to Commonwealth laws, as well as State laws. 

Dinosaurs still rule at The WA Museum – Perth. 


The Museum developed a display containing colourful banners, a multimedia and web based education 

program to tell the story of this milestone event in Australian history. Five copies of the display were 

launched simultaneously at the Museums regional sites, Perth and Rottnest Island. These displays will also 

be available to schools, libraries and keeping places as an ongoing resource for community conversations 

on issues relating to Aboriginal history and reconciliation. 

Visitation to Perth site continues to increase with exhibitions like Howzat! Western Australians and Cricket 

and National Treasures drawing large crowds. 

In 2006-07 Education and Public Programs at the Perth site continued to provide a range of formal and 

informal education programs for visitors of all ages. Following on from the development of the Aboriginal 

Education and Katta Djinoong programs in 2005-2006, this year Education focused on revising and 

developing its Colonial History programs. Three new schools programs were developed, including Seen and 

not Heard for early childhood classes, Fleas, Flies and Frustrations – The Story of the Swan River Settlement 

for middle childhood classes, and WA Retro for early adolescence classes. These classes have been popular 

with teachers wanting to supplement their history programs. 

Education and Public Programs continued its popular school holiday program with four new programs 

including: 

• My Identity, My Country - children worked with an Indigenous artist to produce a large Ancestral Snake 

Mosaic which is now on display in the Hackett Hall Foyer. 

• Eco Explorers – funded by a grant from the Water Corporation, children learnt about Western Australian 

endangered species. 

• Summer Games – presented during the Howzat Exhibition, children engaged with games from the 

‘olden days’. 

• Delux Delights – children engaged in activities about light and colour and made their own kaleidoscope. 

Education and Public Programs worked with the Anthropology Department to present a two week schools 

program, then Spinifex Paper Workshop. Papulankutja artists from the Gibson Desert taught school children 

about indigenous art works and how to make paper from spinifex. This program was fully booked and very 

popular with students and teachers. 

Education and Public Programs also offered a range of programs for adults including professional development 

for teachers such as the Seaweek program where teachers worked with Education staff and scientists from 

Aquatic Zoology to learn about Taxonomy and field work techniques. The Biodiversity in the Suburbs forum 

attracted 67 members of the community who along with scientists from Terrestrial Vertebrates and Terrestrial 

Invertebrates developed an action plan for the preservation of threatened species in the Perth region. 


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The Western Australian Museum – Shipwreck Galleries 

These galleries showcase the collections and work of the Museum’s maritime archeologists. The Batavia 

gallery and original Willem de Vlamingh plate are the obvious major attractions to visitors. This year resulted 

in an increase in school visitation to the site, mostly to take part in the hands-on programs developed by the 

Museum’s Education staff, such as Don’t Rock the Boat. 

Another important event in the Museum’s calendar for the Shipwreck Galleries is National Archeology Week. 

The aim of this national program is to increase public awareness of Australian Archaeology, the work of 

Australian Archaeologists both at home and abroad, and to promote the importance of protecting Australia’s 

unique heritage. The Museum’s program included lectures, workshops, tours and education programs at 

both the Maritime Museum and Shipwreck Galleries. 

The Museum is undertaking a comprehensive master planning process to determine the redevelopment 

of the permanent galleries and spaces at the Museum. This work will provide even greater access to the 

Museum’s world class collections of maritime relics. 

The special education program Puss in Boats was developed by the Education team and trialed in 2006 

with Ballajura Community College Special Education students in Years Five and Six. Feedback from the 

teachers was that the Puss in Boats program was excellent and provided strong affective and learning 

outcomes. Since its inception, bookings for the program have steadily increased. A second program for 

special education students is being developed at the Maritime Museum. 

2.2 Maximise satisfaction and meet visitor needs 

The Museum increased its audience research activities in 2006–07 and improved the methodologies 

by which it surveys its visitors. The Museum continues to regularly interview patrons about their visiting 

experience and visitor survey stations are now installed at all seven Museum sites which allows audiences 

to fill out questionnaires that provide information about their expectations, motivations for visiting and their 

level of satisfaction. 

The newly-installed survey stations offer the Museum the flexibility to simultaneously employ a range of 

questionnaires which is critical for an organisation operating a number of different sites featuring various 

exhibitions and programs. 

Research work included: 

• focus group research in advance of Howzat exhibition. 

• Howzat exhibition survey at the Perth site – summative evaluation. 

• Policeman’s Eye exhibition survey in Albany – summative evaluation. 

• spring and summer school holiday period survey at the Maritime Museum. 

• comparative Easter school holiday period survey across all seven Museum sites. 

The evaluation and analysis of survey results has been carried out in-house as well as by professional 

consultants depending on requirements. 

Assistant Curator Wendy van Duivendorde conducted research that prove the Batavia was built from timber from trees 

that were seedlings growing in a Polish oak forest south of Danzig around 1324. Photograph Norman Bailey. 


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cOMMUNITY 

Strong, respectful and mutually beneficial relationships will be developed and maintained with communities 

across the State to achieve the purpose of the Museum, support community aspirations and build community 

capacity. 

cASE STUDY 

The Western Australian Museum – Geraldton, 

in partnership with the Irra Wangga Geraldton 

Language Program and the region’s Indigenous 

radio station, Radio MAMA, was able to celebrate 

the 40 th Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum with 

a combined event on May 27, 2007. 

The Museum recognised the 40 th anniversary 

of the 1967 Referendum, which changed the 

Constitution to enable Aboriginal people to be 

counted in the national census and to be subject 

to Commonwealth laws, rather than just State 

laws. The Museum developed a display containing 

colourful banners, a multimedia and web based 

education program to tell the story of this milestone 

event in Australian history. 

Five oral histories were recorded by Irra Wangga 

and developed by the Museum into an audiovisual 

included in the Right Wrongs, Write Yes! 40th 

Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum display. Radio 

MAMA recorded and broadcasted the exhibition 

opening, interviewed visitors to the exhibition on 

the day of the opening and brought live local music 

to the event. 

1. ABORIgINAL cOMMUNITIES – to respect aboriginal peoples cultural values and 

promote greater understanding between indigenous and non indigenous people 

1.1 Respect the wishes of Aboriginal communities in the repatriation of ancestral remains and 

secret sacred objects 

The Western Australian Museum acknowledges Aboriginal peoples’ primary rights to collections of Indigenous 

cultural property. The Museum also recognises that particular classes of objects have a role in the ongoing 

maintenance of ceremonies and ritual practice, as in the case of secret-sacred objects, and that Aboriginal 

people have a tangible interest in laying to rest, in country, the remains of their ancestors. 

In 2000 the Cultural Ministers Council initiated the Return of Indigenous Property program with the intention 

of assisting State and Federal museums with the identification, documentation and return of significant 

secret-sacred material and ancestral remains. 

This program supports the belief that it is more appropriate for these secret-sacred objects and ancestral 

remains to be returned to communities where they can be managed according to customary tradition. The 

program operates through a series of projects covering regions and communities as represented within 

the collection. It involves a process of consultation that assists in the identification and documentation of 

objects and in the negotiation of objects and remains for return, where requested. 

Senior Kimberley elders John Watson & Joe Brown, accompanied by the KALACC coordinator, Wes Morris, 

took custody of some 80 sets of ancestral remains for return to a temporary keeping place in Fitzroy 

Crossing. This significant return was the result of four years of consultations and negotiations between the 

Museum, KALACC and Kimberley communities. This project also resulted in the repatriation of 558 secretsacred 

objects to Kimberley elders and KALACC coordinator. 



This image was part of the “Yes” campaign for the 1967 

Referendum that was resoundingly supported by more 

than 90 per cent of Australians.

1.2 Seek the support and specialist advice of the Museum’s Aboriginal Advisory Committee for 

strategic level planning 

The Museum’s Aboriginal Advisory Committee met four times in 2006-07. 

Membership of the Committee comprises Ms Irene Stainton (Chair), Mr Brian Blurton, Mr Ken Colbung, Ms 

Carly Lane, Mr Barry McGuire, Mr John Mallard and Ms Michelle Webb. 

1.3 Seek the support, advice, involvement and where possible partnership of Aboriginal 

communities at a regional and local level 

Staff in the Anthropology Department work with Indigenous communities to develop temporary exhibitions 

in Katta Djinoong community access space, a space designed to showcase recent works by contemporary 

Aboriginal West Australians, or the Museum’s research into issues relevant to Aboriginal people. 

In 2006-07 the following exhibitions were displayed: 

• June 2006: Perth Winter Festival: Holistic – Cultural – Expressive, a retrospective of the work of Dr 

Richard Walley, Binjareb elder. The images and objects showcased his remarkable career and his 

involvement in promoting Nyoongar culture to local, State and international audiences. 

• August 2006: Perth Winter Festival: Pila Nguru, an exhibition of the ten government paintings and the 

2 native title paintings produced by the Spinifex people of the Great Victoria Desert as part of their claim 

for native title rights. 

• November 2006: Papulankutja Artists, Artwork on Spinifex Paper. To accompany the exhibition of 

artworks, the WAM Education Dept organized workshops demonstrating processes of making paper 

from spinifex. Artists also produced some miniature artworks for sale. 

• March 2007: Living on the Edge profiled the evidence uncovered by Museum archaeologists for 

changing climates in the south-west and southern Pilbara over the last 50,000 years. 

• May 2007: Right Wrongs, Write Yes – celebrating 40 years since the 1967 Referendum as well as the 

first exhibition of the acquisition Queen Little Judy by Brian McKinnon 

2. REgIONAL – enrich the economic and cultural life of regional communities through 

the museum’s regional sites based in albany, Kalgoorlie and geraldton and through 

community outreach and support programs 

cASE STUDY gERALDTON 

Conservation staff routinely visit the regional sites 

to inspect and carry out work on objects in the 

permanent exhibitions. A public program has been 

developed to coincide with this annual work plan 

titled Bring Out Your Treasures. This event invites 

members of the public to bring to the museum their 

objects or family heirlooms for inspection and to 

receive basic preservation and storage advice from 

the conservators. 

The Western Australian Museum – Geraldton held 

its first Bring Out Your Treasures in May 2007. Four 

conservators specialising in metals, textiles, paper, 

ceramics and preservation were in attendance. 

Over 20 people from Geraldton and the surrounding 

area took advantage of the opportunity, and many 

interesting and unusual objects were brought in. 

Future visits to the regions by the Conservation staff will continue to include this program to ensure 

that the public are able to access the Museum’s expertise in this area. 

All regional museums were visited by conservation department staff during 2006–07. Staff inspected 

displays and storage areas, monitored gallery environmental conditions and presented public ‘Bring 

out your Treasures’ days in Kalgoorlie and Geraldton. The historic Trade Union banners in Kalgoorlie 

were cleaned for the first time in many years. 


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At The Western Australian Museum – Albany, work began on packing some of the many artefacts in storage 

and building cradles to support and stabilise some of the historic boats. 

Public lectures on the conservation of Mawson’s Huts and preventive conservation were given in Albany and 

Gerladton. In addition lectures on the conservation of Mawson’s Hut were presented to four schools in the 

Albany-Denmark area while the conservation teams were in the area. 

Conservation staff completed restoration work on the Varichetti diving suit in preparation for its installation 

as a focal point of a new display mounted in Coolgardie. Staff conserved the suit and associated accessories 

and fitted internal and external supports to allow it to be safely displayed. 

The Museum Assistance Program (MAP), anthropology and conservation staff members continued 

developing programs for the conservation management of cultural materials in remote regions for local 

Indigenous communities. 

Collection Management staff presented 27 public talks and presentations in centres such as Carnarvon, Tom 

Price, Northam, and Bunbury as well as the regional museum centres in Albany, Geraldton and Kalgoorlie. 

The MAP service delivery model was significantly altered during 2006–07. Technical papers and advice 

materials have all been peer reviewed and appropriately edited by staff. These have now been made 

available on the Museum website under Museum Services Museum Assistance Program. 

A mentoring service for several client organisations operated during the year. MAP staff members conducted 

regular scheduled calls with clients to mentor them in achieving their own strategic goals. MAP staff 

brokered financial support for a number of large projects by negotiating larger than usual grant funding for 

several groups through funding bodies. This involved mentoring the groups in developing effective projects 

and applications to granting authorities; managing the outcomes of the project with the client organisations; 

and representing the Museum in ensuring that best practice models are adhered to in dealing with collection 

matters. 

MAP staff developed a partnership with Dunbartung Aboriginal Corporation for the strategic development of 

the plans to preserve the collection of significant materials held at Kyana Gallery and Dunbartung Aboriginal 

Corporation. 

Maritime History staff have been providing advice to the Broome Historical Society regarding collections and 

donations. 

3. STRATEgIc RELATIONSHIPS – to enrich the museum’s strategic objectives and 

outcomes through mutually beneficial relationships with related education, 

multimedia, arts and cultural organisations 

The Museum has developed a Memorandum of Understanding with Spare Parts Puppet Theatre to develop 

a series of school holiday performances and puppet workshops. These included: 

• September 2006: Aquasapiens: a season of wandering performers through the Museum. 

• January 2007: North West Shipping Theatre season of BlueBack, based on Tim Winton’s novel. 

• April 2007: Mary Surefoot’s Shoe Collection: A performance piece especially commissioned for The 

Western Australian Museum, which drew on the Museum’s History Department’s shoe collection. 

Performances held in the Temporary Exhibition Gallery in a specially designed set as well as workshops 

attended by 668 people. 

It is intended to tour Mary Surefoot’s Shoe Collection to 

other Western Australian Museum sites 

In addition The Western Australian Museum – Albany 

site continued their successful partnership with the 

Perth International Arts Festival and showcased 

EMBLEMS in February 2007. 

The Western Australian Museum – Perth continued 

their work with Awesome Festival, hosting festival 

exhibitions and public programs at the Perth site during 

the festival. 

Education staff at all sites continued their ongoing 

relationship with the Department of Education and 

Training and universities. 



Massive flooding at Esperance in January 

2007 caused extensive damage to 

significant Aboriginal cultural heritage 

sites and Museum staff members Moya 

Smith and Norah Cooper assisted with 

the impact assessment, identification of 

faunal material retrieved from dredging 

and cultural materials and suggested 

strategies for locating cultural materials.

Welcome Walls 

Following the great popularity and success of the Welcome Walls project, the Premier of Western Australia, 

Hon. Alan Carpenter MLA, announced in June 2006 that stage three of the Welcome Walls would be 

developed in the vicinity of The Western Australian Museum – Maritime in Fremantle. The Premier also 

announced a separate Welcome Wall for the City of Albany which will recognise the migrants who arrived 

in Western Australia via Albany Port. 

A community consultation forum and vote on 

the location and design of the Albany Welcome 

Walls was held in Albany in November 2006 

with representatives of the Department of Premier 

and Cabinet, the City of Albany and The Western 

Australian Museum. The public vote was strongly 

in favour of the Amity Heritage Precinct where 

the Albany Welcome Walls are now due to be 

constructed in mid-2008. 

The Western Australian Museum worked closely 

with the Department of Housing and Works and the 

respective architectural firms on the development 

of unique and striking design concepts for stage 

three in Fremantle and the Albany Welcome 

Walls. The design concepts aim to encompass the 

specific characteristics of each location, the nature 

of the project, functionality requirements as well as 

aesthetic appeal. 

Registration sales will continue until early 2008 

unless full capacity is reached before this date. 

More than 2,000 expressions of interest in 

stage three had been received by 

The Western Australian Museum prior to 

registrations formally opening in February 

2007 and, as a result, almost 1,000 

listings were sold within the first 4 weeks 

of sales. More than 50 per cent of the 

registrations capacity for stage three 

was sold between February and June 

2007 while the Albany Welcome Walls 

has sold 40 per cent of its availability. 

The continuously large number of public 

enquiries testifies to the ongoing popularity 

of this initiative. 

The Welcome Walls at The WA Museum – Maritime and the permanent exhibition at the Fremantle History Museum tell 

the stories of those who migrated to Western Australia. Photograph courtesy The WA Museum. 


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cAPAcITY 

The Museum will ensure it has the capacity to meet its statutory obligations, deliver its strategic objectives 

and enhance the provision of its services through: 

• ensuring the financial security and longer term viability of the museum through a strong relationship 

with government, the foundation and other funding partners, as well as through strong financial 

management practices and reinvigorated commercial operations. 

• a motivated, resourceful and trained workforce with a workforce culture which is focused on services 

and benefits to the public and the state. 

• quality corporate practices, including risk management processes, OHS practices, asset management 

and effective information management. 

• a strong information communications and technology (ICT) culture that places the museum at the 

leading edge of research, collections management, communications and exhibition and public program 

technologies. 

• compelling communication of the Museum’s aspirations, achievements, activities and value to the state 

and community of Western Australia. 

1. fINANcIAL – ensuring the financial security and longer term viability of the 

museum through a strong relationship with government, the foundation and other 

funding partners, as well as through strong financial management practices and 

reinvigorated commercial operations 

The Western Australian Museum operates shops in all seven sites. 

Retail sales revenue for 2006–07 was overall on budget and up on the previous year’s sales revenue by 

eight per cent. Visitation to the sites was down overall by two per cent. 

The average sale per customer was $20.74. The percentage of visitors making a purchase in the shops was 

5.86 per cent and visitor spend per head was $1.22 

A comprehensive five-year retail and merchandise strategy was developed, documenting the key objectives 

of the shops and making recommendations on the retail performance over the next five years. 

The strategy document proposed a new retail environment supporting the objectives of The Western 

Australian Museum and increasing profitability while enhancing the visitor experience. 

A common point of sale software system has been introduced across all seven shops and branded shopping 

bags have been developed to raise the public’s awareness of the Museum’s outlets. 

The range of merchandise sold in the shops is unique, mid-priced, high quality and reflects the theme of the 

individual sites. The range includes publications of The Western Australian Museum, local craft, souvenirs, 

giftware, clothing and quality children’s merchandise. 

The plan is to continue to develop shop branding through the use of quality fixtures, paper based product, 

high customer service skills and exclusive Museum branded product. 

Functions and Venue Hire 

The popularity of corporate and social functions continued 

during the year with hirers taking advantage of the 

Museum’s unique spaces. More than 22,550 people 

attended events at The Western Australian Museum 

sites. 

The Western Australian Maritime Museum in particular 

hosed more than 284 catered events including corporate 

dinners, conferences, product launches and weddings. 

The Functions and Venue Hire Department revenue for 

2006–07 was $292,525, an increase of nine per cent 

compared to the previous year’s revenue of $269,105. 

The function and venue hire department is developing 

a five year strategic plan for the department and has 

written a comprehensive venue hire agreement to be 

used across all museum sites. 



The Western Australian Museum has 

implemented a new venue access 

program. This program allows not- 

for-profit organisations, professional 

associations and individuals to apply 

for free venue use at The Western 

Australian Museum. Through this 

program, in 2006–07, more than 

$76,000 was committed in free venue 

use to selected organisations.

2. HUMAN RESOURcES – human resource management policies and practices 

that are coherent and take a strategic approach to achieving the museum’s 

objectives 

cASE STUDY vISITOR SERvIcES TRAININg 

The Museum’s visitor services teams took part in a comprehensive training program this year that 

focused on key duty areas including communications, teamwork and leadership. 

The training is in line with the Visitor Services Training Strategy 2006–2008. This strategy provides 

the basis for a continuous improvement program designed to equip visitor services officers (VSOs) 

to deliver outstanding customer service, including assisting to create a positive and memorable 

experience for visitors. 

The program aimed to enhance overall, individual and team performance and increased both 

competency and knowledge across all sites. 

The strategy’s effectiveness is being measured on an ongoing basis through mystery shopper programs 

performance assessments and customer feedback. 

Customer service skills training was facilitated by the Australian Institute of Management and tailored 

to suit the Museum’s specific front-of-house requirements. It was attended by 40 Museum VSOs from 

the Perth and Fremantle sites in March 2007. 

The course addressed service quality in the eyes of the customer, communications skills, attitudes 

and individual customer engagement as well as identifying customers’ needs and expectations. 

Participants rated the program as relevant, practical and positive. 

In June 2007, private company Merribrook Corporate held a team building development course which 

provided 49 VSOs from different sites with an opportunity to meet each other. This course helped 

to break down the location barriers between sites as well as provide for professional development in 

the area of teamwork. 

Visitor services 

The Western Australian Museum’s visitor services officers (VSOs) took part in a broad training program 

focusing on key duty areas and including topics such as communications, teamwork and leadership. This 

is aligns with the Visitor Services Training Strategy 2006-2008. 

Both in-house professionals and external consultants have facilitated training programs which were tailored 

to specific Museum front-of-house requirements. They were usually scheduled over a minimum of three 

sessions, taking into account staff rosters and including a cross-section of staff from all sites. 

The training primarily focused on effective customer service delivery, communication and engagement with 

a varied audience. Courses included: 

• customer service skills, Australian Institute of Management – 55 participants. 

• disability awareness, Sanderson Green – 36 participants. 

• mystery shopper program. 

• tour technique, FACET – 17 participants. 

• tour content workshops, WA Museum Education – all VSOs. 

• one day work placements, Perth Zoo, Scitech, Art Gallery of WA – all VSOs. 

• visits to other Museum and collection sites such as Kew Street – all VSOs. 

Other areas of training included: 

• HR policy training, WA Museum human resources – 17 participants. 

• team development, Merribrook Corporate – 49 participants. 

• front line management, Australian Institute of Management – 11 participants. 


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3. cORPORATE PRAcTIcES – quality corporate practices, including risk management 

processes and ohs practices, asset management and effective information 

management 

The Museum has continued to develop quality corporate practices, including: 

• Strategic Plan 2006–2011 

• Strategic Asset Management Plan 2007-08 

• Occupational Health and Safety committees and risk management plans for exhibitions that are 

reported to the Museum’s executive management team and to Trustees. 

• a risk management policy and plan is also presently being developed. 

The Museum’s capital works committee managed facilities management at all sites and minor works 

conducted in 2006-07 included replacing the water tank at Geraldton, completing the first stage of the 

Willeton store relocation and replacing security cameras in Perth site temporary exhibition gallery and the 

Kalgoorlie vault. 

Library 

Continued development and management of the collection resulted in 475 monographs added to the 

collection. The exchange program was maintained and about half the 2,020 journal issues received arrived 

in exchange for either the Museum’s publications or the Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia. 

The research library of the Royal Society is integrated with the Museum collection and managed by Museum 

library staff. Donations received included a large scientific reprint collection from former Museum director 

David Ride, a box of mineralogy reprints from Peter Bridge of Hesperian Press, and a set of the Journal of 

Animal Behaviour from entomologist Jan Taylor. 

Inter-library loans continued to play an important role with 355 items obtained for staff from outside 

sources, many from overseas, while 186 loans or copies were supplied to other libraries. A new database 

consisting of press clippings relevant to the Museum’s early history and covering the years 1889-1909 was 

added to the library’s catalogue. The full-text of 301 articles can now be searched and read on the Internet. 

The completion of this project was made possible by money received from The Western Australian Museum 

Foundation. 

Library staff members were assisted throughout the year by six regular volunteers, who together contributed 

1,289 hours. Volunteers worked on a variety of projects, including the online indexing of numerous reprints, 

maps and journal articles. 

Laboratories 

Collection management practices have resulted 

in improved occupational health and safety of 

the Kew Street laboratories. The relocation of the 

minerals and remaining elements of the vertebrate 

and invertebrate palaeontological specimens from 

Perth to Kew Street has resulted in greatly improved 

storage conditions, which will significantly extend 

the life span of the specimens. 

New hazardous chemical vapour detectors have 

been purchased for the museum’s wet specimen 

collection store that contains more than 120,000 

litres of ethanol-preserved specimens. The detectors 

will also be installed in the four natural science 

laboratories in the first weeks of July 2007. 

Regular total air quality monitoring of the facilities 

at Welshpool has been instituted to ensure that 

adequate records exist of the conditions under 

which the collection has been stored. 



Much of the Museum’s collection is now housed in greatly 

improved storage conditions at the Welshpool Collection and 

Research Centre. Technical Officer, Corey Whisson with a giant 

clamshell. Photograph Norman Bailey.

4. INfORMATION AND cOMMUNIcATIONS TEcHNOLOgY – a strong iCt culture that 

places the museum at the leading edge of research, collections management, 

communications and exhibition and public program technologies 

In 2006–07 the Museum engaged a consultant from Museum Victoria to assist with the development of 

the Museum’s ICT Strategic Plan. 

The Museum’s ICT infrastructure was reviewed and key equipment was replaced. 

5. cOMMUNIcATION – Compelling communication of the museum’s aspirations, 

achievements and value to the state and community of western australia 

Marketing and events 

The Marketing and Events team implemented 

campaigns for more than 25 exhibitions, events 

and public programs across all sites in the past 

financial year. 

Highlights for the marketing team in 2005/06 

included the Howzat! Western Australians and 

cricket campaign which attracted 11,000 people 

to the Museum over a three month period. New 

relationships were forged with media partners 

720 ABC and Channel 9 which enabled a 

strong marketing campaign to complement the 

West Australian Newspaper partnership. 

School holidays continued to play a major role 

in audience development and in this period the 

marketing team created marketing material for 

all sites. 

Media 

During the past year, the Museum’s Media and 

Communications Unit responded to more than 

250 queries from international, national and State 

media outlets, television programs, magazines and 

production companies on a broad range of issues 

and stories. 

With a clear focus of lifting the Museum’s public 

profile, the unit researched and prepared 151 media 

statements, media alerts, written responses to media 

inquiries and stories for the Museum’s e-newsletter 

and website and for Intersector magazine. 

The unit also prepared and wrote 22 speeches for 

government members and senior Museum staff. 

In tandem with the marketing team, communications 

provided and executed publicity plans on an ongoing 

basis for more than 25 exhibitions, events and public 

programs across all Museum sites. This work helped 

publicise the Museum’s activities in these areas as 

well as its scientific achievements. 

A new media monitoring service was funded through 

the year which will assist in quantifying the Museum’s 

public profile as well as the publicity received for 

specific activities such as exhibitions and school 

holiday programs 



The focus of the marketing strategies was 

to broaden the Museum’s visibility and 

audience reach through dynamic advertising 

and marketing campaigns. A consolidated 

approach to marketing enabled the Museum to 

create collateral that reflected the new strategic 

direction and position the Museum as one 

organisation. The result has been a higher 

awareness of the Museum’s seven sites and 

higher awareness and attendance of programs 

such as school holidays 

The Two Bobs proved to be a popular school holiday attraction.

[ OPERATIONAL STRUcTURE ] 

THE MUSEUM AcT 1969 

The Museum Act 1969 section 9 sets out the functions of the Museum. These are summarised as: 

• to encourage, and to provide facilities for, the wider education of the community through the display 

and other use of collections and through knowledge derived from the collections. 

• to make and preserve on behalf of the community of the State collections representative of the Aborigines 

of the State, the history of exploration, settlement and development of the State, and the natural history 

of the State. 

• to preserve on behalf of the community any remains of wrecks, archaeological or anthropological sites, 

or other things of special interest; 

• to aid the advancement of knowledge through research into collections and by publishing the results of 

research. 

• to provide facilities to encourage interest in the culture and history of the aborigines of the State, in the 

history and natural history of the State. 

• to aid the work of universities, State and Commonwealth institutions and schools. 

• to train employees in the making, caring for, researching into and the employment of education of 

collections of the Museum. 

gOvERNANcE AND MANAgEMENT 

The Western Australian Museum is established under the Museum Act 1969 and is a statutory authority 

within the culture and the arts portfolio. It is a body corporate with Perpetual Succession and Common 

Seal, governed by a Board of seven Trustees, including the Chair and Vice Chair. The Governor of Western 

Australia appoints the seven Trustees. Appointments are made for up to four years and incumbents are 

eligible for reappointment. 

The Trustees are the Accountable Authority for the purposes of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 

1985. 

The Western Australian Museum Trustees 

Mr Tim Ungar BEc MAICD FAIM Chair 

Professor Lyn Beazley MA(Hons) PhD 

Mr Alastair Bryant BBus (ex officio) 

Mr Edward Tait BA(Econs) (until 18 August 2006) 

Mr Peter Yu 

Ms Jude Leon BA Masters Strategic Marketing (until 18 April 2007) 

Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Bolton AO CitWA 

Ms Tracey Horton MBA BEc(Hons) 

Mr Steve Scudamore MA (Oxon) FICA (Eng, Wales,Aust) Sr Fellow FINISA, Fellow AICD 

(from 24 October 2006) 

The major functional areas of the Museum are: 

• Collection and Content Development 

• Collection Management and Conservation 

• Exhibition, Design and Public Programs 

• Commercial Operations; and 

• the Office of the Chief Executive Officer incorporating Strategic Planning and Policy Development 


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OUTcOME STATEMENTS 

The Western Australian Museum’s annual budget is included in the budget statements under the outcome 

for the Department for Culture and the Arts (DCA). The DCA outcome statement is – Western Australia’s 

natural, cultural and documentary collections are preserved, accessible and sustainable. 

Funds allocated to the Museum are allocated under the DCA service six. 

Service Six – Museum Services – The Western Australian Museum contributes to this outcome through the 

delivery and promotion of museum services through collection development and management, research, 

education and visitor services. The Museum measures its performance through key performance indicators 

– accessibility, preservation and sustainability and the efficiency indicator – cost of providing museum 

services. 

LINkS TO gOvERNMENT’S STRATEgIc PLANNINg fRAMEWORk 

Five goals underpin the State Government strategic planning framework Better Planning: Better Futures 

articulating the desired strategic direction for the public sector in this state. These include: 

• Better Services – enhancing the quality of life and well being of all people throughout Western Australia 

by providing high quality, accessible services. 

• Jobs and Economic Development – creating conditions that foster a strong economy delivering more 

jobs, opportunities and greater wealth for all Western Australians. 

• Lifestyle and the Environment – protecting and enhancing the unique Western Australian lifestyle and 

ensuring sustainable management of the environment. 

• Regional Development – ensuring that regional Western Australia is strong and vibrant. 

• Governance and Public Sector Improvement – developing and maintaining a skilled, diverse and ethical 

public sector serving the government with consideration of the public interest. 

The Museum contributes to the achievement of all of the Government’s five strategic goals 

The eight public sites and the scientific research of the Museum contribute significantly to enhancing the 

quality of life and well being of all Western Australians. The Museum manages the collection of almost four 

million objects, valued at $205 million on behalf of the State and its people, investigating, documenting and 

showcasing the wealth and diversity of Western Australia’s natural and social history. 

The Museum’s team of specialised scientists work 

closely with proponents, consultants and the 

Department of Environmental Protection to assist in 

planning and development processes. They provide 

objective, authoritative information and advice to 

Government and the private sector on the impacts 

of mining and other developments on bio diverse 

and culturally significant areas. 

The Museum makes a major contribution to the 

management of the State’s environment through 

its research on species distribution and population 

and responses to activities like mining, agriculture 

and urban development and researches the affect 

on species of climate change associated with land 

management practices and global warming. 

Exhibitions, public programs and curatorial and 

conservation expertise contribute to the strong 

and vibrant regional centres of Albany, Geraldton 

and Kalgoorlie. In addition the Museum provides 

leadership across the State through its Museum 

Assistance Program demonstrating the latest 

advances in museum development and practice. 

The changes undertaken at The Western Australian 

Museum contribute to the goal of governing for all in 

an open, effective and efficient manner to ensure a 

sustainable future. 

Rag dolls by Cherie Walley and Jean Riley of Narrogin, 

acquired in 2006–07 with the assistance of FORM Gallery. 


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STRATEgIc PLAN 2006–11 

The Museum has developed a strategic planning framework for 2006–11, this document articulates the 

Museum’s vision and purpose and will be used to develop business and operational plans for each division. 

The purpose of The Western Australian Museum is to: 

• collect, preserve, investigate, document and showcase the enormous wealth and diversity of this State’s 

faunal, geological and meteoritic resources, as well as its social and maritime history in order to understand 

and value the past, enhance and attend to the present and respond to the challenges of the future. 

• enrich the cultural life of the State by providing a platform to share the unique stories of Western 

Australia’s people, land and sea and the state’s role in the region and wider world. 

• integrate strategic collection and research activities with exhibitions and public programs that are 

educational, experiential, exciting, entertaining and innovative. 

• inspire discovery across diverse audiences, offering a forum to engage in debate and question issues 

that are important to, and impact on society and the community. 

The Western Australian Museum’s strategic plan identifies priority areas of work for the next five years. Work 

done to achieve the Museum’s purpose is carried out in the areas of collections, knowledge, experiences, 

community and capacity. These five areas provide a strategic focus for the Museum’s objectives, goals, 

performance measures and strategic initiatives and link clearly to the Government’s strategic plan Better 

Planning Better Futures. 

cOLLEcTIONS 

The Museum will strategically manage and strengthen the collections by continuing to acquire faunal, 

geological and meteoritic specimens, and objects related to the social and maritime history of the State, for 

the benefit of present and future generations. 

The management and accessibility of the collections are fundamental to the Museum’s purpose, providing 

the ‘real objects’ that enable the unique stories of Western Australia to excite, inspire, educate and be 

experienced by visitors. 

kNOWLEDgE 

Leadership in generating knowledge that relates to an understanding of Western Australia’s natural, maritime 

and social history will be demonstrated by continuing to build on the Museum’s tradition of academic and 

scientific excellence. 

The Museum contributes to advancing knowledge nationally and internationally through publication of its 

research activities in a range of medium, loaning items from its collections to national and international 

scholars and institutions and hosting local, national and international visiting scholars. 

The Museum plays a vital role in training and mentoring the next generation of scientists and museum 

practitioners through the supervision of post-graduate and doctoral students, research grant staff and 

supporting tertiary museum and heritage studies programs. 

ExPERIENcES 

Exhibitions and programs will be educational, engaging, inspiring and informative experiences. They will 

be developed and built using international best practice, based on scholarship and research and informed 

by community interest. 

Public programs and exhibitions will provide opportunities for discovery, inquiry, debate, reflection and 

contemplation. They will be dynamic, combining contemporary practices – including the latest new media 

technologies – with the best educational and communication techniques. Engaging and innovative public 

programs will encourage multiple visits to museum sites both metropolitan and regional 

New and exciting retail, hospitality and special event experiences will be created to enliven and enhance the 

visitor experience of the Museum’s sites. 

With the development of a new museum for Perth, new architectural and design experiences will embody 

the principles of environmental sustainability and innovation. The new museum will be a premier attraction, 

a tourist destination in its own right. It will represent an entry point to Western Australia, introducing the 

state, the people, their stories and our natural heritage. 

Engaging and interpretive experiences offered through the museum’s website will generate virtual visitors 

ensuring the museum’s collections and programs are accessible across the state and internationally. 


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cOMMUNITY 

Strong, respectful and mutually beneficial relationships will be developed and maintained with communities 

across the State to achieve the purpose of the Museum, support community aspirations and build community 

capacity. 

cAPAcITY 

The Museum will ensure it has the capacity to meet its statutory obligations, deliver its strategic objectives 

and enhance the provision of its services through: 

• ensuring the financial security and longer term viability of the museum through a strong relationship 

with government, the foundation and other funding partners, as well as through strong financial 

management practices and reinvigorated commercial operations. 

• a motivated, resourceful and trained workforce with a workforce culture which is focused on services 

and benefits to the public and the state. 

• quality corporate practices, including risk management processes, OHS practices, asset management 

and effective information management. 

• a strong information communications and technology (ICT) culture that places the museum at the 

leading edge of research, collections management, communications and exhibition and public program 

technologies. 

• compelling communication of the Museum’s aspirations, achievements, activities and value to the state 

and community of Western Australia. 

Making the Museum’s sites vibrant places to visit. Left Museum Curator Dr Jane Fromont. Right Spare Parts Puppet Theatre. 

Photographs Norman Bailey. 


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Department of Culture and the Arts 

Office of the CEO Collection Management 

and Conservation 

Executive Director 

Executive Officer 

Trustees 

Ministerial Liaison 

and Co-ordination 

Director 

Strategic Planning and 

Policy Development 

Finance & Procurement 

Minor and Major 

Capital Works 

Records Management 

Human Relations 

Facilities Management 

(Non-collections) 

Security 

Government Relations 

Welcome Walls 

Media Relations 

Principal Author 

Maritime History and 

Archaeology 

ORgANISATIONAL STRUcTURE 

Manager 

Collection Facilities 

Management and 

Compliance 

Manager 

Collection Management 

Information System 

and Registration 

Collection Valuation 

Librarian 

Library 

Director 

Conservation 

Manager 

Museum Assistance 

Program 

Minister for Culture and the Arts 

Board of Trustees 

CEO 

Exhibition and Design 

and Public Programs 

Director 

Manager 

Public Program 

Development and 

Co-ordination 

Manager 

Education and 

Professional Program 

Development and 

Co-ordination 

Manager 

Exhibition Design, 

Construction and 

Multimedia 

Development 

Manager 

Project Management 

and Programming 

Temporary, Permanent 

Exhibitions and 

Publications 

Manager 

Publications and 

Paperbased Product 

Development 

Manager 

Shipwreck Galleries, 

Maritime Museum, 

Submarine, Fremantle 

History Museum, 

Samson House 

Manager 

Albany Museum 

Manager 

Kalgoorlie/Boulder 

Museum 

Manager 

Geraldton Museum 

Manager 

Perth Museum 

Commercial Operations 

and Visitor Services 

Director 

Manager 

Commercial Operations 

Café Catering 

Manager 

Retail Operations 

E Commerce 

Manager 

Venue and Bookings 

Manager 

Visitors Services 

Audience Research 

Manager 

Marketing 



Foundation 

Friends 

Collections and Content 

Development 

Executive Director 

Head of Department 

Aquatic Zoology 


Terrestrial Invertebrates 


Terrestrial Vertebrates 


Earth and Planetary 

Sciences 

Palaeontology 


Anthropology 


History 


Maritime Archaeology 

Archaeology 

Administration of Historic 

Shipwrecks Act 

Administration of Sites 

of Significance 


Maritime History

THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM fOUNDATION 

The Western Australian Museum Foundation is the fundraising body of The Western Australian Museum. 

The Foundation’s role is to encourage investment in the Museum through sponsorships, donations, gifts and 

bequests in order to help realise a range of exciting projects beyond the scope of Government funding. 

Over the past year, the Foundation has brought on board 19 new donors and corporate partners to support 

various Museum activities in addition to its existing 35 supporters and corporate partners. 

A major focus of 2006–07 was the Howzat! Western Australians and cricket exhibition and corresponding 

fundraising dinner. The Foundation would like to acknowledge all of our Howzat! partners who provided 

valuable support for a wonderful Museum exhibition about the history of cricket in Western Australia. 

The Foundation would also like to formally thank all of our generous supporters for their ongoing commitment 

and enthusiasm, without which the Museum’s diverse program of activities could not be sustained. 

See Appendix A for a full list of supporters of The Western Australian Museum. 

THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM fOUNDATION BOARD Of gOvERNORS 

Sir Charles Court AK KCMG OBE CitWA (Patron) 

Mr John Poynton AM CitWA BComm FAICD FAIM SF Fin (Chair) 

Hon. Julie Bishop MP Federal Member for Curtin, Minister for Education, Science and Training, Minister 

Assisting the Prime Minister on Women’s Issues 

Dr Dawn Casey PSM FAHA (ex officio) 

Hon. Richard Court AC 

Mr Geoff Duncan 

COMM Michael Gangemi OAM JP 

Ms Tracey Horton MAICD BEc (Hons) MBA 

Mr Tim Ungar BEc MAICD FAIM (and Trustees’ representative) 

Foundation partners 

The Western Australian Museum Foundation gratefully acknowledges the support of the following partners: 

Patron 

Kailis Australian Pearls 

Royal Australian Navy 

benefactor 

Argyle Diamonds 

Australia II Jubilee Challenge 2001 Inc. 

Australian Government Department of Defence 

Founder 

Alcoa Foundation 

Alcoa of Australia 

BankWest 

Fremantle Ports 

Kailis Bros Pty Ltd 

Kailis Consolidated Pty Ltd 

Kailis and France Holdings Pty Ltd 

Shell Development (Australia) Pty Ltd 

Woodside Energy Limited 

North West Shelf Shipping Service Company Pty Ltd 

Rio Tinto WA Future Fund 

The West Australian 

Lionel Samson & Son Pty Ltd 

MG Kailis Group 

Sadleirs Transport 

Sealanes Pty Ltd 

Western Australian Fishing Industry Council 

Water Corporation 

WMC – Sir Lindesay Clark Trust Fund 


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720 ABC Perth 

Alinta Limited 

Australian Capital Equity 

Azure Capital 

BHP Billiton Iron Ore 

Channel 9 

GRD Limited 

Gatecrasher Advertising 

Home Building Society Ltd 

Jock Clough Foundation 

Member 

Broadwater Hotels and Resorts 

Budget Rent A Car 

Faye Mrs Bridget 

Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines Pty Ltd 

McCusker Mr Malcolm 

Monarch Gold Mining 

Pilbara Iron 

Port Bouvard 

Prime Health Group 

Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale 

Telstra Country Wide 

Tenix Defence Pty Ltd – Marine Division 

TSA Telco Group 

Western Australian Cricket Association 

Woodside Valley Foundation 

Moore Stephens 

Phelps Mrs Ruth Rowell 

Skippers Aviation 

Skywest Airlines 

Ungar Mr Tim 

The Western Australian Museum Foundation would also like to thank the many additional supporters who 

assisted the museum with their kind contributions of up to $1,000. 

fRIENDS Of THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM 

Friends of the Museum Inc was established in 1995 as a way for members to gain a greater appreciation 

of WA’s rich natural and cultural heritage. Over the past year, the Friends have continued to support and 

promote all metropolitan and regional sites of The Western Australian Museum. All new exhibitions, school 

holiday and public programs are offered to Friends in advance and at a discount where charges apply. 

Opportunities to attend special exhibition launches are also offered. 

Events held this year included those for Howzat, Western Australians and cricket, Deidre Neilson artist talk 

and tour installation piece and a curator lead tour through the back of house at Shipwreck Galleries 


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To the Parliament of Western Australia 

THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM 

AUDITOR gENERAL 

independent audit opinion 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2007 

I have audited the accounts, financial statements, controls and key performance indicators of The Western 

Australian Museum. 

The financial statements comprise the Balance Sheet as at 30 june 2007, and the Income Statement, Statement 

of Changes in Equity and Cash Flow Statement for the year then ended, a summary of significant accounting 

policies and other explanatory Notes. 

The key performance indicators consist of key indicators of effectiveness and efficiency. 

Trustees’ Responsibility for the Financial Statements and Key Performance Indicators 

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounts, and the preparation and fair presentation of the 

financial statements in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards (including the Australian Accounting 

Interpretations) and the Treasurer’s Instructions, and the key performance indicators. This responsibility includes 

establishing and maintaining internal controls relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of the financial 

statements and key performance indicators that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or 

error; selecting and applying appropriate accounting policies; making accounting estimates that are reasonable in 

the circumstances; and complying with the Financial Management Act 2006 and other relevant written law. 

Summary of my Role 

As required by the Auditor General Act 2006, my responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements, 

controls and key performance indicators based on my audit. This was done by testing selected samples of the 

audit evidence. I believe that the audit evidence I have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis 

for my audit opinion. Further information on my audit approach is provided in my audit practice statement. Refer 

“http://www.audit.wa.gov.au/pubs/Audit-Practice-Statement.pdf”. 

An audit does not guarantee that every amount and disclosure in the financial statements and key performance 

indicators is error free. The term “reasonable assurance” recognises that an audit does not examine all evidence 

and every transaction. However, my audit procedures should identify errors or omissions significant enough to 

adversely affect the decisions of users of the financial statements and key performance indicators. 

Audit Opinion 

[ DIScLOSURES AND LEgAL cOMPLIANcE ] 

In my opinion, 

(i) the financial statements are based on proper accounts and present fairly the financial position of The 

Western Australian Museum at 30 june 2007 and its financial performance and cash flows for the year 

ended on that date. They are in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards (including the Australian 

Accounting Interpretations) and the Treasurer’s Instructions; 

(ii) the controls exercised by the Museum provide reasonable assurance that the receipt, expenditure and 

investment of money, the acquisition and disposal of property, and the incurring of liabilities have been in 

accordance with legislative provisions; and 

(iii) the key performance indicators of the Museum are relevant and appropriate to help users assess the 

Museum’s performance and fairly represent the indicated performance for the year ended 30 june 2007. 

COLIN MURPHY 

AUDITOR GENERAL 

26 September 2007 

4th Floor Dumas House 2 Havelock Street West Perth 6005 Western Australia Tel: 08 9222 7500 Fax: 08 9322 5664 


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cERTIfIcATION Of fINANcIAL STATEMENTS 


fOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2007 

The accompanying financial statements of The Western Australian Museum have been prepared in compliance with the 

provisions of the Financial Management Act 2006 from proper accounts and records to present fairly the financial transactions 

for the financial year ending 30 June 2007 and the financial position as at 30 June 2007. 

At the date of signing we are not aware of any circumstances which would render any particulars included in the financial 

statements misleading or inaccurate. 

Tim Ungar 

Chairman of Trustees 

Date: 3 September 2007 

Steve Scudamore 

Trustee 


Dr Dawn Casey 

Chief Executive Officer 


Peter Stewart 

Chief Finance Officer 



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COST OF SERVICES 

Expenses 

INcOME STATEMENT 





notes 2007 2006 

$000 $000 

Employee benefits expense 4 13,258 12,308 

Supplies and services 5 4,564 3,945 

Depreciation and amortisation expense 6 2,663 2,543 

Accommodation expenses 7 2,078 1,682 

Grants and subsidies 13 7 

Capital user charge 8 6,272 6,399 

Cost of sales 11 606 557 

Other expenses 9 137 291 

Total cost of services 29,591 27,732 

Income 

Revenue 

User charges and fees 10 1,714 1,996 

Sales 11 1,390 1,167 

Commonwealth grants and contributions 12 430 655 

Interest revenue 13 295 247 

Other revenue 14 1,471 2,045 

Total Revenue 5,300 6,110 

Total income other than income from State Government 5,300 6,110 

NET COST OF SERVICES 24,291 21,622 

INCOME FROM STATE GOVERNMENT 

15 

Service appropriation 6,645 6,056 

Assets assumed – 1,135 

Resources received free of charge 18,911 15,267 

State grants and contributions 288 107 

Total income from State Government 25,844 22,565 

SURPLUS FOR THE PERIOD 1,553 943 

The Income Statement should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

ASSETS 

Current Assets 

BALANcE SHEET 


AS AT 30 JUNE 2007 




$000 $000 

Cash and cash equivalents 28 5,192 3,138 

Restricted cash and cash equivalents 16, 28 266 416 

Inventories 17 605 629 

Receivables 18 800 667 

Amounts receivable for services 19 371 330 

Other current assets 20 140 116 

Total Current Assets 7,374 5,296 

Non-Current Assets 

Amounts receivable for services 19 10,363 8,273 

Property, plant and equipment 21 105,548 95,330 

Collections 22 205,996 176,596 

Intangible assets 23 13 23 

Total Non-Current Assets 321,920 280,222 

TOTAL ASSETS 329,294 285,518 

LIABILITIES 

Current Liabilities 

Payables 25 661 242 

Other current liabilities 26 39 135 

Total Current Liabilities 700 377 

Total Liabilities 700 377 

NET ASSETS 328,594 285,141 

EQUITY 27 

Contributed equity 12,006 11,936 

Reserves 63,056 21,231 

Accumulated surplus 253,532 251,974 

TOTAL EQUITY 328,594 285,141 

The Balance Sheet should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

STATEMENT Of cHANgES IN EQUITY 




$000 $000 

Balance of equity at start of period 27 285,146 102,040 

CONTRIBUTED EQUITY 27 

Balance at start of period 11,936 11,717 

Capital contribution 70 219 

Balance at end of period 12,006 11,936 

RESERVES 27 

Asset Revaluation Reserve 

Balance at start of period 21,231 15,888 

Gains from asset revaluation 41,825 5,343 


ACCUMULATED SURPLUS (RETAINED EARNINGS) 

Balance at start of period 27 251,974 74,430 

Surplus/(deficit) or profit/(loss) for the period 1,553 943 

Initial take up of assets 5 176,601 


Balance of equity at end of period 328,594 285,146 

Total income and expense for the period (a) 43,378 6,286 

(a). The aggregate net amount attributable to each category of equity is: Surplus $1,553,000 plus gains from asset revaluation 

of $41,825,000 (2006: Surplus $943,000 plus gains from asset revaluation of $5,343,000). 

The Statement of Changes in Equity should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes 


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cASH fLOW STATEMENT 






$000 $000 

CASH FLOWS FROM STATE GOVERNMENT 

Service appropriation 4,280 3,545 

Capital contributions 52 219 

Holding account drawdowns 252 208 

State grants and contributions – 82 

Net cash provided by State Government 4,584 4,054 

Utilised as follows: 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 

Payments 

Employee benefits (698) (2,477) 

Supplies and services (5,152) (5,017) 

Accommodation (1,842) (1,771) 

Grants and subsidies (20) – 

GST payments on purchases (708) (726) 

Other payments (240) (218) 

Receipts 

Sale of goods and services 1,278 1,158 

User charges and fees 2,011 1,936 

Commonwealth grants and contributions 165 488 

Other grants and contributions 1,000 354 

Interest received 275 204 

GST receipts on sales 402 320 

GST receipts from taxation authority 317 362 

Other receipts 882 753 

Net cash used in operating activities 28 (2,330) (4,634) 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES 

Purchase of non-current physical assets (350) (499) 

Net cash used in investing activities (350) (499) 

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 1,904 (1,079) 

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period 3,554 4,633 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT THE END OF PERIOD 28 5,458 3,554 

The Cash Flow Statement should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

1. Australian equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards 

General 

The Western Australian Museum’s financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2007 have been prepared in accordance with 

Australian equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards (AIFRS), which comprise a Framework for the Preparation 

and Presentation of Financial Statements (the Framework) and Australian Accounting Standards (including the Australian 

Accounting Interpretations). 

In preparing these financial statements The Western Australian Museum has adopted, where relevant to its operations, new and 

revised Standards and Interpretations from their operative dates as issued by the AASB and formerly the Urgent Issues Group 

(UIG). 

early Adoption of Standards 

The Western Australian Museum cannot early adopt an Australian Accounting Standard or Australian Accounting Interpretation 

unless specifically permitted by TI 1101 ‘Application of Australian Accounting Standards and Other Pronouncements’. No 

Standards and Interpretations that have been issued or amended but are not yet effective have been early adopted by The 

Western Australian Museum for the annual reporting period ended 30 June 2007. 

2.Summary of significant accounting policies 

(a) General Statement 

The financial statements constitute a general purpose financial report which has been prepared in accordance with the Australian 

Accounting Standards, the Framework, Statements of Accounting Concepts and other authoritative pronouncements of the 

Australian Accounting Standards Board as applied by the Treasurer’s instructions. Several of these are modified by the Treasurer’s 

Instructions to vary application, disclosure, format and wording. 

The Financial Management Act and the Treasurer’s instructions are legislative provisions governing the preparation of financial 

statements and take precedence over the Accounting Standards, the Framework, Statements of Accounting Concepts and other 

authoritative pronouncements of the Australian Accounting Standards Board. 

Where modification is required and has a material or significant financial effect upon the reported results, details of that 

modification and the resulting financial effect are disclosed in the notes to the financial statements. 

(b) basis of Preparation 

The financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting using the historical cost convention, modified by 

the revaluation of buildings and Museum collections which have been measured at fair value. 

The accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the financial statements have been consistently applied throughout all 

periods presented unless otherwise stated. 

The financial statements are presented in Australian dollars and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand dollars ($’000). 

(c) Reporting entity 

The reporting entity comprises The Western Australian Museum only. 

(d) Contributed equity 

NOTES TO THE fINANcIAL STATEMENTS 

UIG Interpretation 1038 ‘Contributions by Owners Made to Wholly-Owned Public Sector Entities’ requires transfers in the nature 

of equity contributions to be designated by the Government (the owner) as contributions by owners (at the time of, or prior 

to transfer) before such transfers can be recognised as equity contributions. Capital contributions (appropriations) have been 

designated as contributions by owners by Treasurer’s Instruction (TI) 955 ‘Contributions by Owners made to Wholly Owned 

Public Sector Entities’ and have been credited directly to Contributed Equity. 

Transfer of net assets to/from other agencies are designated as contributions by owners where the transfers are non-discretionary 

and non-reciprocal. See note 27 ‘Equity’. 

(e) Income 

Revenue recognition: Revenue is measured at the fair value of consideration received or receivable. Revenue is recognised for 

the major business activities as follows: 

Sale of goods: Revenue is recognised from the sale of goods and disposal of other assets when the significant risks and rewards 

of ownership control transfer to the purchaser and can be measured reliably. 

Rendering of services: Revenue is recognised on delivery of the service to the client or by reference to the stage of completion 

of the transaction. 

Interest: Revenue is recognised as the interest accrues. 




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Service Appropriations: Service Appropriations are recognised as revenues at nominal value in the period in which The Western 

Australian Museum gains control of the appropriated funds. The Western Australian Museum gains control of appropriated funds 

at the time those funds are deposited to the bank account or credited to the holding account held at Treasury. (See note 15 

‘Income from State Government’). 

Grants, donations, gifts and other non-reciprocal contributions: Revenue is recognised at fair value when The Western 

Australian Museum obtains control over the assets comprising the contributions, usually when cash is received. 

Other non-reciprocal contributions that are not contributions by owners are recognised at their fair value. Contributions of 

services are only recognised when a fair value can be reliably determined and the services would be purchased if not donated. 

Where contributions recognised as revenues during the reporting period were obtained on the condition that they be expended in 

a particular manner or used over a particular period, and those conditions were undischarged as at the balance sheet date, the 

nature of, and amounts pertaining to, those undischarged conditions are disclosed in the notes. 

Gains: Gains may be realised or unrealised and are usually recognised on a net basis. These include gains arising on the disposal 

of non-current assets and some revaluations of non-current assets. 

(f) Property, plant and equipment 

Capitalisation/Expensing of assets: Items of property, plant and equipment costing $1,000 or moreare recognised as assets and 

the cost of utilising assets is expensed (depreciated) over their useful lives. Items of property, plant and equipment costing less 

than $1,000 are immediately expensed direct to the Income Statement (other than where they form part of a group of similar 

items which are significant in total). 

Initial recognition and measurement: All items of property, plant and equipment are initially recognised at cost. 

For items of property, plant and equipment acquired at no cost or for nominal cost, the cost is their fair value at the date of 

acquisition. 

Subsequent measurement: After recognition as an asset, the revaluation model is used for the measurement of land, buildings 

and collection and the cost model for all other property, plant and equipment. Land, buildings and collection are carried at fair 

value less accumulated depreciation on buildings and infrastructure and accumulated impairment losses. All other items of 

property, plant and equipment are stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. 

Where market-based evidence is available, the fair value of land and buildings is determined on the basis of current market 

buying values determined by reference to recent market transactions (or other basis, describe). When buildings are revalued by 

reference to recent market transactions, the accumulated depreciation is eliminated against the gross carrying amount of the 

asset and the net amount restated to the revalued amount. 

Where market-based evidence is not available, the fair value of land and buildings is determined on the basis of existing use. This 

normally applies where buildings are specialised or where land use is restricted. Fair value for existing use assets is determined by 

reference to the cost of replacing the remaining future economic benefits embodied in the asset, ie. the depreciated replacement 

cost. Where the fair value of buildings is dependent on using the depreciated replacement cost, the gross carrying amount and 

the accumulated depreciation are restated proportionately. 

Independent valuations of land and buildings are provided annually by the Western Australian Land Information Authority (Valuation 

Services) and recognised with sufficient regularity to ensure that the carrying amount does not differ materially from the asset’s fair 

value at the balance sheet date. 

The most significant assumptions in estimating fair value are made in assessing whether to apply the existing use basis to assets 

and in determining estimated useful life. Professional judgement by the valuer is required where the evidence does not provide 

a clear distinction between market type assets and existing use assets. 

Refer to note 21 ‘Property, plant and equipment’ for further information on revaluations. 

Depreciation: All non-current assets having a limited useful life are systematically depreciated over their estimated useful lives 

in a manner that reflects the consumption of their future economic benefits. 

Land is not depreciated. Depreciation on other assets is calculated using the straight line method, using rates which are reviewed 

annually. Estimated useful lives for each class of depreciable asset are: 

Buildings 40 years 

Computer Equipment 4 years 

Plant and Equipment 10 years 

Furniture and Fittings 10 years 

Monuments 40 years 

Scientific Equipment 10 years 

Transport 6 to 7 years 

[ NOTES TO THE fINANcIAL STATEMENTS ] 

THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM fOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2007 

Leasehold Improvements Balance of the current terms of lease 

Works of art controlled by The Western Australian Museum are classified as property, plant and equipment which are anticipated 

to have very long and indefinite useful lives. Their service potential has not, in any material sense, been consumed during the 

reporting period and so no depreciation has been recognised. 


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(g) Collections 

Capitalisation/Expensing of assets: The Collections of The Western Australian Museum were valued for the first time in the prior 

reporting period by independent valuers using a combination of both market values, where applicable, and recollection costs. 

Additional items were recognised in the current reporting period by independent valuers using a combination of both market 

values, where applicable, and recollection costs. 

Subsequent measurement: Valuations of Heritage Collections are based on consideration of cost of replacement, the services 

provided, the average values of similar size collections at other libraries, and itemised values for some specific items. 

Collection items may be acquired through collection, purchase or donation. Acquisitions of collection items are recorded at cost 

when purchased. Valuation of the Collections by an independent valuer will be completed every three years. 

Collection items controlled by The Western Australian Museum are classified as heritage assets. They are anticipated to have 

very long and indeterminate useful lives. Their service potential has not, in any material sense, been consumed during the 

reporting period. As such, no amount for depreciation has been recognised in respect of these assets. 

(h) Intangible Assets 

Capitalisation/Expensing of assets: Acquisitions of intangible assets costing $1,000 or more and internally generated intangible 

assets costing $50,000 or more are capitalised. The cost of utilising the assets is expensed (amortised) over their useful life. 

Costs incurred below these thresholds are immediately expensed directly to the Income Statement. 

All acquired and internally developed intangible assets are initially recognised at cost. For assets acquired at no cost or for 

nominal cost, the cost is their fair value at the date of acquisition. 

The cost model is applied for subsequent measurement requiring the asset to be carried at cost less any accumulated amortisation 

and accumulated impairment losses. 

The carrying value of intangible assets is reviewed for impairment annually when the asset is not yet in use, or more frequently 

when an indicator of impairment arises during the reporting year indicating that the carrying value may not be recoverable. 

Amortisation for intangible assets with finite useful lives is calculated for the period of the expected benefit (estimated useful life) 

on the straight line basis using rates which are reviewed annually. All intangible assets controlled by The Western Australian 

Museum have a finite useful life and zero residual value. The expected useful lives for each class of intangible asset are: 

Software (a) 4 years 

(a) Software that is not integral to the operation of any related hardware. 

Computer Software: Software that is an integral part of the related hardware is treated as property, plant and equipment. 

Software that is not an integral part of the related hardware is treated as an intangible asset. Software costing less than $1,000 

is expensed in the year of acquisition. 

(i) Impairment of Assets 

Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets are tested for any indication of impairment at each balance sheet date. 

Where there is an indication of impairment, the recoverable amount is estimated. Where the recoverable amount is less than 

the carrying amount, the asset is considered impaired and is written down to the recoverable amount and an impairment loss is 

recognised. As The Western Australian Museum is a not-for-profit entity, unless an asset has been identified as a surplus asset, 

the recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs to sell and depreciated replacement cost. 

The risk of impairment is generally limited to circumstances where an asset’s depreciation is materially understated, where the 

replacement cost is falling or where there is a significant change in useful life. Each relevant class of assets is reviewed annually 

to verify that the accumulated depreciation/amortisation reflects the level of consumption or expiration of asset’s future economic 

benefits and to evaluate any impairment risk from falling replacement costs. 

Intangible assets with an indefinite useful life and intangible assets not yet available for use are tested for impairment at each 

balance sheet date irrespective of whether there is any indication of impairment. 

The recoverable amount of assets identified as surplus assets is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and the present value of 

future cash flows expected to be derived from the asset. Surplus assets carried at fair value have no risk of material impairment 

where fair value is determined by reference to market-based evidence. Where fair value is determined by reference to depreciated 

replacement cost, surplus assets are at risk of impairment and the recoverable amount is measured. Surplus assets at cost are 

tested for indications of impairment at each balance sheet date. 

Refer to note 24 ‘Impairment of assets’ for the outcome of impairment reviews and testing. 

Refer also to note 2(q) ‘Receivables’ and note 18 ‘Receivables’ for impairment of receivables. 

(j) non-current Assets (or Disposal Groups) Classified as Held for Sale 

Non-current assets (or disposal groups) held for sale are recognised at the lower of carrying amount and fair value less costs to 

sell and are presented separately from other assets in the Balance Sheet. Assets classified as held for sale are not depreciated or 

amortised. 

(k) leases 



Finance lease rights and obligations are initially recognised, at the commencement of the lease term, as assets and liabilities equal 

in amount to the fair value of the leased item or, if lower, the present value of the minimum lease payments, determined at the 

inception of the lease. The assets are disclosed as plant and equipment under lease, and are depreciated over the period during 

which The Western Australian Museum is expected to benefit from their use. Minimum lease payments are apportioned between 

the finance charge and the reduction of the outstanding lease liability, according to the interest rate implicit in the lease. 

The Western Australian Museum holds operating leases for property and equipment. Lease payments are expensed on a straight 

line basis over the lease term as this represents the pattern of benefits derived from the leased property and equipment. 


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(l) Financial Instruments 

The Western Australian Museum has two categories of financial instrument: 

Receivables (cash and cash equivalents, receivables); and 

non-trading financial liabilities (interest bearing loans and payables). 

Initial recognition and measurement of financial instruments is at fair value which normally equates to the transaction cost or the 

face value. Subsequent measurement is at amortised cost using the effective interest method. 

The fair value of short-term receivables and payables is the transaction cost or the face value because there is no interest rate 

applicable and subsequent measurement is not required as the effect of discounting is not material. 

(m) Cash and Cash equivalents 

For the purpose of the Cash Flow Statement, cash and cash equivalent (and restricted cash and cash equivalent) assets comprise 

cash on hand and short-term deposits with original maturities of three months or less that are readily convertible to a known 

amount of cash and which are subject to insignificant risk of changes in value, and bank overdrafts. 

(n) Accrued Salaries 

Accrued salaries represent the amount due to staff but unpaid at the end of the financial year, as the pay date for the last pay 

period for that financial year does not coincide with the end of the financial year. Accrued salaries are settled within a fortnight 

of the financial year end. The Department of Culture and the Arts meets all employee costs, including recognising the accrued 

salaries for employees. This expense is recognised as part of the Resources Received Free of Charge by the Department of Culture 

and the Arts in the Income Statement. The Western Australian Museum considers the carrying amount of accrued salaries to be 

equivalent to its net fair value. 

(o) Amounts Receivable for Services (Holding Account) 

The Western Australian Museum receives funding on an accrual basis that recognises the full annual cash and non-cash cost of 

services. The appropriations are paid partly in cash and partly as an asset (Holding Account receivable) that is accessible on the 

emergence of the cash funding requirement to cover items such as leave entitlements and asset replacement. 

See also note 15 ‘Income from State Government’ and note 19 ’Amounts receivable for services’. 

(p) Inventories 

Inventories are measured at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Costs are assigned by the method most appropriate to each 

particular class of inventory, with the majority being valued on an average cost basis. 

Inventories not held for resale are valued at cost unless they are no longer required, in which case they are valued at net realisable 

value. 

See note 17 ‘Inventories’. 

(q) Receivables 

Receivables are recognised and carried at original invoice amount less an allowance for any uncollectible amounts (i.e. 

impairment). The collectability of receivables is reviewed on an ongoing basis and any receivables identified as uncollectible are 

written-off. The allowance for uncollectible amounts (doubtful debts) is raised when there is objective evidence that The Western 

Australian Museum will not be able to collect the debts. The carrying amount is equivalent to fair value as it is due for settlement 

within 30 days. See note 2(l) ‘Financial Instruments’ and note 18 ‘Receivables’. 

(r) Payables 

Payables are recognised at the amounts payable when The Western Australian Museum becomes obliged to make future 

payments as a result of a purchase of assets or services. The carrying amount is equivalent to fair value, as they are generally 

settled within 30 days. See note 2(l) ‘Financial Instruments’ and note 25 ‘Payables’. 

(s) Provisions 



Provisions are liabilities of uncertain timing or amount and are recognised where there is a present legal or constructive obligation 

as a result of a past event and when the outflow of resources embodying economic benefits is probable and a reliable estimate 

can be made of the amount of the obligation. Provisions are reviewed at each balance sheet date. 

(i) Provisions – Employee Benefits: 

Annual Leave and Long Service, Leave: All staff of the Culture and Arts portfolio agencies, including The Western Australian 

Museum, are employees of the Department of Culture and the Arts. Employee resources are received free of charge by 

the Museum, the value of which is recognised as both a revenue and expense in the Income Statement. The Department 

of Culture and the Arts retains all liabilities in relation to employee benefits and accrued salaries. 

Superannuation: The Government Employees Superannuation Board (GESB) administers the following superannuation 

schemes. 

Employees may contribute to the Pension Scheme, a defined benefit pension scheme now closed to new members or the 

Gold State Superannuation Scheme (GSS), a defined benefit lump sum scheme also closed to new members. 

The Western Australian Museum has no liabilities under the Pension or the GSS Schemes. The liabilities for the unfunded 

Pension Scheme and the unfunded GSS Scheme transfer benefits due to members who transferred from the Pension 

Scheme, are assumed by the Treasurer. All other GSS Scheme obligations are funded by concurrent contributions made 

by the Department of Culture and the Arts on behalf of The Western Australian Museum to the GESB. The concurrently 

funded part of the GSS Scheme is a defined contribution scheme as these contributions extinguish all liabilities in respect 

of the concurrently funded GSS Scheme obligations. 


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Employees commencing employment prior to 16 April 2007 who are not members of either the Pension or the GSS 

Schemes became non-contributory members of the West State Superannuation Scheme (WSS). Employees commencing 

employment on or after 16 April 2007 became members of the GESB Super Scheme (GESBS). Both of these schemes 

are accumulation schemes. The Department of Culture and the Arts makes concurrent contributions to GESB on behalf of 

employees in compliance with the Commonwealth Government’s Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992. 

These contributions extinguish the liability for superannuation charges in respect of the WSS and GESBS Schemes. 

The GESB makes all benefit payments in respect of the Pension and GSS Schemes, and is recouped by the Treasurer for 

the employer’s share. 

See also note 2(t) ‘Superannuation expense’. 

(ii) Provisions – Other 

Employment On–Costs: Employment on-costs, including workers’ compensation insurance, are not employee benefits 

and are recognised separately as liabilities and expenses when the employment to which they relate has occurred. 

Employment oncosts are included as part of ‘Other expenses’ and are not included as part of The Western Australian 

Museum’s ‘Employee benefits expense’. The related liability is included in ‘Employment on-costs provision’. See note 9 

‘Other expenses’ . 

(t) Superannuation expense 

The following elements are included in calculating the superannuation expense in the Income Statement: 

(a) Contributions paid by the Department of Culture and the Arts to the GSS and WSS schemes for staff who provide services 

to The Western Australian Museum. 

(b) Accrued superannuation relating to accrued salaries to 30 June 2007. 

(u) Resources Received Free of Charge or for nominal Cost 

Resources received free of charge or for nominal cost that can be reliably measured are recognised as income and as assets or 

expenses as appropriate, at fair value. 

The Western Australian Museum receives resources free of charge from the Department of Culture and the Arts for employee 

expenses and capital user charge. 

(v) Comparative Figures 

Comparative figures are, where appropriate, reclassified to be comparable with the figures presented in the current financial year. 

3. Disclosure of changes in accounting policy and estimates 

Initial application of an Australian Accounting Standard The Western Australian Museum has applied the following Australian 

Accounting Standards and Australian Accounting Interpretations effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after 

1 July 2006: 

1. AASB 2005-9 ‘Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards [AASB 4, AASB 1023, AASB 139 & AASB 132]’ (Financial 

guarantee contracts). The amendment deals with the treatment of financial guarantee contracts, credit insurance contracts, 

letters of credit or credit derivative default contracts as either an “insurance contract” under AASB 4 ‘Insurance Contracts’ or 

as a “financial guarantee contract” under AASB 139 ‘Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement’. The Western 

Australian Museum does not currently undertake these types of transactions, resulting in no financial impact in applying 

the Standard. 

2. UIG Interpretation 4 ‘Determining whether an Arrangement Contains a Lease’ as issued in June 2005. This Interpretation 

deals with arrangements that comprise a transaction or a series of linked transactions that may not involve a legal form of 

a lease but by their nature are deemed to be leases for the purposes of applying AASB 117 ‘Leases’. At balance sheet date, 

The Western Australian Museum has not entered into any arrangements as specified in the Interpretation, resulting in no 

impact in applying the Interpretation. 

3. UIG Interpretation 9 ‘Reassessment of Embedded Derivatives’. This Interpretation requires an embedded derivative that has 

been combined with a non-derivative to be separated from the host contract and accounted for as a derivative in certain 

circumstances. At balance sheet date, The Western Australian Museum has not entered into any contracts as specified in 

the Interpretation, resulting in no impact in applying the Interpretation. 

The following Australian Accounting Standards and Interpretations are not applicable to The Western Australian Museum as they 

have no impact or do not apply to not-for-profit entities: 

AASb Standards and Interpretations 

2005–1 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standard (AASB 139 – Cash flow hedge accounting of forecast intragroup 

transactions) 

2005–5 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards [AASB 1 & AASB 139] 

2006–1 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards [AASB 121] 



2007–2 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from AASB Interpretation 12 [AASB 1, AASB 117, 

AASB 118, AASB 120, AASB 121, AASB 127, AASB 131 & AASB 139] – paragraph 9 

UIG 5 Rights to Interests arising from Decommissioning, Restoration and Environmental Rehabilitation Funds 

UIG 6 Liabilities arising from Participating in a Specific Market – Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment 

UIG 7 Applying the Restatement Approach under AASB 129 Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies 

UIG 8 Scope of AASB 2 




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Future impact of Australian Accounting Standards not yet operative 

The Western Australian Museum cannot early adopt an Australian Accounting Standard or Australian Accounting Interpretation 

unless specifically permitted by TI 1101 Application of Australian Accounting Standards and Other Pronouncements. 

Consequently, The Western Australian Museum has not applied the following Australian Accounting Standards and Australian 

Accounting Interpretations that have been issued but are not yet effective. These will be applied from their application date: 

1. AASB 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures (including consequential amendments in AASB 2005-10 Amendments to 

Australian Accounting Standards [AASB 132, AASB 101, AASB 114, AASB 117, AASB 133, AASB 139, AASB 1, AASB 

4, AASB 1023 & AASB 1038]). This Standard requires new disclosures in relation to financial instruments. The Standard 

is considered to result in increased disclosures, both quantitative and qualitative of The Western Australian Museum’s 

exposure to risks, enhanced disclosure regarding components of The Western Australian Museum’s financial position 

and performance, and possible changes to the way of presenting certain items in the financial statements. The Western 

Australian Museum does not expect any financial impact when the Standard is first applied. The Standard is required to be 

applied to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2007. 

2. AASB 2005–10 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards (AASB 132, AASB 101, AASB 114, AASB 117, AASB 

133, AASB 139, AASB 1, AASB 4, AASB 1023, & AASB 1038). The amendments are as a result of the issue of AASB 

7 ‘Financial Instruments: Disclosures’, which amends the financial instrument disclosure requirements in these standards. 

The Western Australian Museum does not expect any financial impact when the Standard is first applied. The Standard is 

required to be applied to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2007. 

3. AASB 101 Presentation of Financial Statements. This Standard was revised and issued in October 2006 so that AASB 101 

has the same requirements as IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements’(as issued by the IASB) in respect of for-profit 

entities. The Western Australian Museum is a not-for-profit entity and consequently does not expect any financial impact 

when the Standard is first applied. The Standard is required to be applied to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 

1 January 2007. 

4. AASB 2007-4 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from ED 151 and Other Amendments (AASB 

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 102, 107, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131,132, 

133, 134, 136, 137, 138, 139, 141, 1023 & 1038). This Standard introduces policy options and modifies disclosures. 

These amendments arise as a result of the AASB decision that, in principle, all options that currently exist under IFRSs 

should be included in the Australian equivalents to IFRSs and additional Australian disclosures should be eliminated, other 

than those now considered particularly relevant in the Australian reporting environment. The Department of Treasury and 

Finance has indicated that it will mandate to remove the policy options added by this amending Standard. This will result 

in no impact as a consequence of application of the Standard. The Standard is required to be applied to annual reporting 

periods beginning on or after 1 July 2007. 

5. AASB 2007-5 Amendment to Australian Accounting Standard – Inventories Held for Distribution by Not-for-Profit Entities 

(AASB 102). This amendment changes AASB 102 ‘Inventories’ so that inventories held for distribution by not-for-profit 

entities are measured at cost, adjusted when applicable for any loss of service potential. The Western Australian Museum 

does not have any inventories held for distribution so does not expect any financial impact when the Standard is first 

applied. The Standard is required to be applied to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 July 2007. 

6. AASB Interpretation 4 Determining whether an Arrangement Contains a Lease [revised]. This Interpretation was revised 

and issued in February 2007 to specify that if a public-to-private service concession arrangement meets the scope 

requirements of AASB Interpretation 12 Service Concession Arrangements as issued in February 2007, it would not be 

within the scope of Interpretation 4. At balance sheet date, The Western Australian Museum has not entered into any 

arrangements as specified in the Interpretation or within the scope of Interpretation 12, resulting in no impact when the 

Interpretation is first applied. The Interpretation is required to be applied to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 

1 January 2008. 

7. AASB Interpretation 12 Service Concession Arrangements. This Interpretation was issued in February 2007 and 

gives guidance on the accounting by operators (usually a private sector entity) for public-to-private service concession 

arrangements. It does not address the accounting by grantors (usually a public sector entity). It is currently unclear as to 

the application of the Interpretation to The Western Australian Museum if and when public-to-private service concession 

arrangements are entered into in the future. At balance sheet date, The Western Australian Museum has not entered into 

any public-to-private service concession arrangements resulting in no impact when the Interpretation is first applied. The 

Interpretation is required to be applied to annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2008. 

8. AASB Interpretation 129 Service Concession Arrangements: Disclosures [revised]. This Interpretation was revised 

and issued in February 2007 to be consistent with the requirements in AASB Interpretation 12 Service Concession 

Arrangements as issued in February 2007. Specific disclosures about service concession arrangements entered into are 

required in the notes accompanying the financial statements, whether as a grantor or an operator. At balance sheet date, 

The Western Australian Museum has not entered into any public-to-private service concession arrangements resulting in 

no impact when the Interpretation is first applied. The Interpretation is required to be applied to annual reporting periods 

beginning on or after 1 January 2008. 

9. AASB 2007–6 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from AASB 123 makes amendments to AASB 1 

First-time Adoption of Australian Equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards, AASB 101 Presentation of 

Financial Statements, AASB 107 Cash Flow Statements, AASB 111 Construction contracts, AASB 116 Property, Plant and 

Equipment, AASB 138 Intangible Assets, Interpretation 1 Changes in Existing Decommissioning, Restoration and Similar 

Liabilities and Interpretation 12 Service Concession Arrangements. AASB 2007-6 is applicable for annual reporting periods 

beginning on or after 1 January 2009 and must be applied at the same time as AASB 123 Borrowing Costs. This standard 

principally removes the references to expensing borrowing costs on qualifying assets and is not expected to affect The 

Western Australian Museum’s financial report. 

10. AASB 2007–7 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from AASB 2007-4 makes amendments to AASB 1 

First-time Adoption of Australian Equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards, AASB 2 Share-Based Payment, 

AASB 4 Insurance Contracts, AASB 5 Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations, AASB Cash Flow 

Statements and AASB 128 Investments in Associates. AASB 2007-7 is applicable for annual reporting periods beginning on 

or after 1 July 2007. This standard is only expected to impact disclosures contained within the financial report 


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The following Australian Accounting Standards and Interpretations are not applicable to The Western Australian Museum as 

they will have no impact or do not apply to not-for-profit entities: 

AASb Standards and Interpretations 

AASB 8 Operating Segments 

AASB 1049 Financial Reporting of General Government Sectors by Governments’ 

AASB 2007–1 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from AASB Interpretation 11 [AASB 2]’ 

AASB 2007–2 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from AASB Interpretation 12 [AASB 1,AASB 

117, AASB 118, AASB 120, AASB 121, AASB 127, AASB 131 & AASB 139]’ 

paragraphs 1 to 

AASB 2007-3 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards arising from AASB 8 [AASB 5, AASB 6, 

AASB 102, AASB 107, AASB 119, AASB 127, AASB 134, AASB 136, AASB 1023 

& AASB 1038]’ 

Interpretation 10 Interim Financial Reporting and Impairment 

Interpretation 11 AASB 2 – Group and Treasury Share Transactions’ 

4. Employee benefits expense 


2007 2006 

$000 $000 

Wages and salaries (a) 11,976 11,099 

Superannuation – defined contribution plans (b) 1,113 991 

Fringe Benefits Tax 18 22 

Other related expenses 152 196 

(a) Includes the value of the fringe benefit to the employee plus the fringe benefits tax component. 

(b) Defined contribution plans include West State and Gold State (contributions paid). 

Employment on-costs such as workers’ compensation insurance are included at note 9 ‘Other Expenses’. 

5. Supplies and services 



13,258 12,308 

Consultants and contractors 1,301 639 

Consumables 497 398 

Repairs and maintenance 387 511 

Lease/hire 454 284 

Communications 156 310 

Printing 123 215 

Sundry equipment 180 127 

Advertising 298 142 

Insurance premiums 335 309 

Travel 307 219 

Exhibition fees 182 160 

Freight and cartage 134 192 

Legal fees 11 11 

Other 199 428 


4,564 3,945

6. Depreciation and amortisation expense 



$000 $000 

Depreciation 

Buildings 1,357 1,209 

Computing, plant and equipment 1,016 1,038 

Total depreciation 2,373 2,247 

Amortisation 

Leasehold improvements 275 208 

Intangible assets 15 88 

Total amortisation 290 296 

Total depreciation and amortisation 2,663 2,543 

7. Accommodation expenses 

Repairs & maintenance 460 402 

Security 224 136 

Cleaning 213 175 

Utilities 1,102 854 

Other 79 115 

8. Capital user charge 

2,078 1,682 

Capital user charge 6,272 6,399 

The charge was a levy applied by Government for the use of its capital. In 2006-07, the final year in which the charge was 

levied, a single payment was made equal to the appropriation for 2006-07 less any adjustment relating to 2005-06. 

9. Other expenses 

Workers Compensation Premiums 64 122 

Audit Fees (i) 43 33 

Other 30 136 

(i) Audit fees - see also note 34 ‘Remuneration of auditor’. 

10. User charges and fees 



137 291 

User charges 428 922 

Fees 1,286 1,074 


1,714 1,996

11. Trading profit 



$000 $000 

Sales 1,390 1,167 

Cost of Sales: 

Opening inventory (629) (590) 

Purchases (582) (596) 

(1,211) (1,186) 

Closing inventory 605 629 

Cost of Goods Sold (606) (557) 

Trading Profit 783 610 

See note 2(p) ‘Inventories’ and note 17 ‘Inventories’. 

12. Commonwealth grants and contributions 

Recurrent 416 655 

Capital 14 – 

13. Interest revenue 

430 655 

Interest revenue 295 247 

14. Other revenue 



Donations and contributions 1,330 972 

Recoup of prior year expenses – 840 

Other 141 234 


1,471 2,046

15. Income from State Government 




$000 $000 

Appropriation received during the year: 

Service appropriation (a) 6,645 6,056 

6,645 6,056 

The following assets have been assumed from/(transferred to) 

other state government agencies during the financial year: – 1,135 

Total assets assumed/(transferred) – 1,135 

Resources received free of charge (b) 

Determined on the basis of the following estimates provided by agencies: 

Department of Culture and the Arts 18,904 15,261 

State Solicitor’s Office 7 6 

18,911 15,267 

State grants and contributions 288 107 

25,844 22,565 

(a). Service appropriations are accrual amounts reflecting the net cost of services delivered. The appropriation revenue comprises 

a cash component and a receivable (asset). The receivable (holding account) comprises the depreciation expense for the year 

and any agreed increase in leave liability during the year. 

(b). Where assets or services have been received free of charge or for nominal cost, The Western Australian Museum recognises 

revenues (except where the contributions of assets or services are in the nature of contributions by owners in which case The 

Western Australian Museum shall make a direct adjustment to equity) equivalent to the fair value of the assets and/or the fair 

value of those services that can be reliably determined and which would have been purchased if not donated, and those fair 

values shall be recognised as assets or expenses, as applicable. 

16. Restricted cash and cash equivalents 

Current 

Specific Purpose Grant funds (a) 266 416 

(a) Cash held in the account includes specific purpose account balances and unspent specific purpose grants. 

17. Inventories 

Current 

Inventories held for resale – finished goods at cost 

Bulk book store 228 253 

Museum shops stock 377 377 

See also note 2(p) ‘Inventories’ and note 11 ‘Trading profit’. 

18. Receivables 



605 630 

Current 

Receivables 658 671 

Allowance for impairment of receivables – (59) 

GST receivable 142 55 

Total Current 800 667 

See also note 2(q) ‘Receivables’ and note 32 ‘Financial instruments’.

19. Amounts receivable for services 




$000 $000 

Current 371 330 

Non-current 10,363 8,273 

10,734 8,603 

Represents the non-cash component of service appropriations. See note 2(o) ‘Amounts receivable for services (Holding Account)’. 

It is restricted in that it can only be used for asset replacement or payment of leave liability. 

20. Other assets 



Current 

Prepayments – 7 

Accrued Income 140 109 

Total current 140 116 

21. Property, plant and equipment 

Freehold land 

At fair value (a) 22,860 16,410 

Accumulated impairment losses - - 

22,860 16,410 

Buildings 

At fair value (a) 69,479 64,938 

Accumulated depreciation (240) (183) 

Accumulated impairment losses (230) (230) 

Leasehold improvements 

69,009 64,526 

At cost 10,457 9,584 

Accumulated depreciation (778) (384) 

9,679 9,200 

Computers, plant, equipment and vehicles 

At cost 5,115 9,850 

Accumulated depreciation (3,521) (5,300) 

1,594 4,550 

Furniture and fittings 

At cost 4,603 1,171 

Accumulated depreciation (2,197) (526) 

2,406 645 

Total property, plant and equipment 105,548 95,330 

(a) Freehold land and buildings were revalued as at 1 July 2006 by the Western Australian Land Information Authority (Valuation 

Services). The valuations were performed during the year ended 30 June 2007 and recognised at 30 June 2007. The fair value 

of all land and buildings has been determined by reference to recent market transactions. Refer Note 2(f) ‘Property, plant and 

equipment’. 

To ensure the valuations provided by Valuation Services were compliant at 30 June 2007 with the fair value requirements 

under AASB 116, Valuation Services provided the Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF) with information that tracked 

the general movement in the market value of land and in building construction costs from the 1 July 2006 (the date of 

valuation) to 31 March 2007. DTF reviewed the information and determined that the valuations provided by Valuation Services 

(as at 1 July 2006) were compliant with fair value requirements for 30 June 2007 reporting without further adjustment.

Reconciliations of the carrying amounts of property, plant, equipment and vehicles at the beginning and end of the reporting 

period are set out below. 

Freehold land buildings leasehold Computers, Furniture Total 

improvements plant, and fittings 

equipment 

and vehicles 

$000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 

2007 

Carrying amount 

at start of year 16,410 64,525 9,200 4,550 645 95,330 

Additions 5 296 141 442 

Reallocations (200) 873 (4,039) 3,305 (62) 

Disposals (992) (15) (1,006) 

Revaluation increments 6,451 4,735 11,186 

Depreciation 


(56) (394) 1,779 (1,671) (342) 

at end of year 22,860 69,009 9,679 1,594 2,406 105,548 



at start of year 15,535 60,084 9,409 5,245 593 90,866 

Additions 650 533 250 145 1,578 

Revaluation increments 225 3,945 4,170 

Depreciation 

Reversal of prior 

(1,209) (209) (945) (93) (2,456) 

year depreciation 


1,172 1,172 

at end of year 16,410 64,525 9,200 4,550 645 95,330 

22. Collections 






$000 $000 

Collections at fair value 205,996 176,596 

Reconciliation 

Carrying amount at start of year 176,596 – 

Additions 1 

Initial take up of assets 5 176,596 

Revaluation Increments 29,337 – 

Reallocations 57 – 

Carrying amount at end of year 205,996 176,596 

Acquisitions of collection items are recorded at cost when purchased. Valuation of the Collections by an independent valuer 

will be conducted every three years. The revaluation indicated in 2007 is the first valuation of some items of the collection that 

were not valued in 2006. 

The initial valuation of The Western Australian Museum’s collection in 2006 and the subsequent revaluation in 2007 was 

conducted by officers from the Australian Valuation Office. 

The personnel involved were: 

Mr Ian Armstrong, who is an approved Valuer under the Cultural Gifts Program administered by the Department of Communications, 

Information Technology and the Arts. His areas of expertise are historic manufactured items, ephemera, scrimshaw and related 

marine historic items, numismatics, sporting memorabilia, historic footwear and related items; 

Mr John Armatys, a senior Valuer from the Australian Valuation Office, Hobart, who is qualified to value both real property and 

plant and equipment; and 

Mr Graeme Addicott, FAPI FRICS MPIA, Principal Valuer, Australian Valuation Office, who managed the valuation project.

23. Intangible assets 




$000 $000 

Computer software 

At cost 396 432 

Accumulated amortisation (384) (409) 

13 23 

Reconciliation 

Computer software 

Carrying amount at start of year 23 96 

Additions 4 15 

Reallocations (4) 

Amortisation expense 26 (88) 

Disposals (36) 

Carrying amount at end of year 13 23 

24. Impairment of assets 

There were no indications of impairment to Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets at 30 June 2007. 

The Western Australian Museum held no goodwill or intangible assets with an indefinite useful life during the balance sheet and 

at reporting date there were no intangible assets not yet available for use. 

All surplus assets at 30 June 2007 have either been classified as assets held for sale or written-off. 

25. Payables 

Current 

Trade payables 661 242 

Total current 661 242 

See also note 2(r) ‘Payables’ and note 32 ‘Financial instruments’. 

26. Other liabilities 



Income received in advance 28 50 

Accrued expenses 7 81 

Unclaimed monies 4 4 

Total current 39 135

27. Equity 






$000 $000 

Equity represents the residual interest in the net assets of The Western Australian Museum. The Government holds the equity 

interest in The Western Australian Museum on behalf of the community. The asset revaluation reserve represents that portion 

of equity resulting from the revaluation of non-current assets. 

Contributed equity 

Balance at start of year 

Contributions by owners 

11,936 11,717 

Capital contribution (a) 70 219 

Total contributions by owners 70 219 

Balance at end of year 12,006 11,936 

(a). Capital Contributions (appropriations) and non-discretionary (non-reciprocal) transfers of net assets from other State 

government agencies have been designated as contributions by owners in Treasurer’s instruction TI 955 ‘Contributions by 

Owners Made to Wholly Owned Public Sector Entities’ and are credited directly to equity. 

Reserves 

Asset revaluation reserve: 

Balance at start of year 

Net revaluation increments/(decrements): 

21,231 15,888 

Land 6,451 225 

Buildings 6,037 5,118 

Collections 29,337 – 


Accumulated Surplus 

Balance at start of year 251,974 74,430 

Result for the period 1,553 943 

Correction of prior period error (a) 5 176,601 


(a). The initial take up of collections in 2006 was treated as a revaluation gain instead of being recognised in accumulated 

surplus.

28. Notes to the Cash Flow Statement 

Reconciliation of cash 




$000 $000 

Cash at the end of the financial year as shown in the Cash Flow Statement is reconciled to the related items in the 

Balance Sheet as follows: 

Cash and cash equivalents 5,192 3,138 

Restricted cash and cash equivalents 

(see note 16 ‘Restricted cash and cash equivalents’) 266 416 

Reconciliation of net cost of services to net cash flows 

used in operating activities 

5,458 3,554 

Net cost of services (24,292) (21,622) 

Non-cash items: 

Depreciation and amortisation expense 2,663 2,543 

Write down of stock 

Resources received free of charge 18,911 15,267 

Adjustment for other non-cash items 192 41 

(Increase)/decrease in assets: 

Current receivables (b) (133) (198) 

Current inventories 25 (39) 

Interest receivable (48) (40) 

Increase/(decrease) in liabilities: 

Current payables (b) 419 (569) 

Other current liabilities (96) (7) 

Change in GST in receivables/payables (a) 29 (10) 

Net cash used in operating activities (2,330) (4,634) 

(a). This reverses out the GST in receivables and payables. 

(b). Note that the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) receivable/payable in respect of GST and the receivable/payable in respect of 

the sale/purchase of non-current assets are not included in these items as they do not form part of the reconciling items. 

29. Commitments 

Capital expenditure commitments 

Capital expenditure commitments, being contracted capital expenditure additional to the amounts reported in the financial 

statements, are payable as follows: 

Within 1 year - 16 

Lease commitments 

Commitments in relation to leases contracted for at the balance sheet date 

but not recognised in the financial statements are payable as follows: 

Within 1 year 145 164 

Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years 64 144 

209 308 

Representing: 

Cancellable operating leases 212 308 

These commitments are all inclusive of GST. 


THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM fOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2007

30. Events occurring after the balance sheet date 

Any events that occurred after balance sheet date that confirmed conditions that existed at the reporting date have been reflected 

in these statements. There were no events that arose after the reporting date that were of material significance. 

31. Explanatory statement 



Significant variations between estimates and actual results for income and expense are shown below. Significant variations are 

considered to be those greater than 10% or $100,000. 

Significant variances between estimated and actual result for 2007 

2007 estimate 2007 Actual Variation Variation 

$000 $000 $000 % 

Expenses 

Employee benefits expense 12,606 13,258 652 5% 

Supplies and services 4,895 4,564 (331) -7% 

Depreciation and amortisation expense 2,461 2,663 202 8% 

Accommodation expenses 2,482 2,079 (404) -16% 

Capital user charge 6,272 6,272 - 0% 

Cost of sales 730 606 (124) -17% 

Other expenses 160 137 (23) -14% 

Income 

User charges and fees 1,477 1,714 237 16% 

Sales 1,250 1,390 140 11% 

Commonwealth grants and contributions 710 430 (280) -39% 

Interest revenue 135 295 160 118% 

Other revenue 1,248 1,471 223 18% 

Employee benefits expense 

The Museum’s roll into shared services was delayed for several months and Department of Culture and the Arts’ finance staff 

who’s positions were abolished, or who were to be redeployed to the Office of Shared Services were retained for about eight 

months longer than was budget. 

Accommodation expense 

Some costs for the Kew Street premises were known to have increased significantly in 2007, such as security, cleaning and 

minor works (combined increased expense of $134k) and electricity, water and gas costs (combined total increase of $249k). 

While the additional costs were included in the Museum’s budget for 2006–07, through negotiation with the Department of 

Culture and the Arts (DCA), approximately half these increased costs were met by the DCA. 

Cost of sales 

Due to high general museum visits and high numbers of people attending special exhibitions (Howzat), merchandise and book 

sales were higher than budget expectations. The cost of sales is lower than budgeted commensurate with the higher income 

from sales of stock. 

User charges and fees 

Entrance fee collections for special exhibitions, such as the Howzat exhibition, exceeded budget expectations. 

Sales 

Merchandise and book sales were higher than budget expectations through special exhibitions such as Howzat! 

Commonwealth grants and contributions 

Commonwealth grants are received for specific research projects, some of them cross several years and fluctuations between 

years is to be expected. 

Interest revenue 

Earning interest rate was higher than budgeted. In addition, higher revenues than budgeted resulted in higher bank balances 

earning interest than expected. 

Other revenue 

The actual revenue was higher than expected because of donations and contributions towards specific projects. ‘ 


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Significant variances between actual results for 2006 and 2007 

Expenses 

2007 2006 Variation Variation 

$000 $000 $000 % 

Employee benefits expense 13,258 12,308 950 7% 

Supplies and services 4,564 3,945 619 14% 

Depreciation and amortisation expense 2,663 2,543 120 5% 

Accommodation expenses 2,079 1,682 397 19% 

Capital user charge 6,272 6,399 (127) -2% 

Cost of sales 606 557 49 8% 

Other expenses 137 291 (154) -112% 

Income 



User charges and fees 1,714 1,996 (282) -17% 

Sales 1,390 1,167 223 16% 

Commonwealth grants and contributions 430 655 (225) -52% 

Interest revenue 295 247 48 16% 

Other revenue 1,471 2,045 (574) -39% 

Significant Variances -– > $100,000 or 10% 

Employee expenses 

While staff numbers have not increased significantly, Award increases have seen increased salary costs, as well as related 

superannuation expenses and leave entitlement values. 

Supplies and services 

The increase can mainly be attributed to the Howzat! Exhibition, which increased costs in areas such as contract staff, exhibition 

construction services, maintenance costs, advertising and promotion and equipment leasing expenses. 

Accommodation expenses 

In the rental agreement for the Museum’s Kew Street property, there is a ratchet clause, so rent increases each year. In addition 

utilities costs have risen. 

Capital user charge 

Capital user charge expense relates to the Museum’s net asset value at 30 June each year. However, in 2007 the Capital User 

Charge was abolished for future years and the Museum was required to pay back to Department of Treasury and Finance all 

appropriations which had been provided, rather than performing a calculation to ascertain the net asset position at 30 June. 

Other expenses 

In 2006 an amount of $117,000 had been paid out as a recoup of direct costs, whereas in 2007 this did not occur. In addition, 

an increase of $64,000 was experienced in the worker’s compensation premium. 

Sales 

Sales in merchandise and publications are higher than the prior year, reflecting the popularity of merchandise and publications 

from the Howzat! exhibition. 

Commonwealth grants and contributions 

Commonwealth grants are received for specific research projects, some of them cross several years and fluctuations between 

years is to be expected. 

Interest revenue 

Interest revenue is higher than in 2006 because The Western Australian Museum’s cash holdings in the interest bearing bank 

account is higher. 

Other revenue 

The main reason for this reduction, is that in 2006 $840,000 was recouped as overpaid expenses in 2006. This did not recur 

in 2007. 


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32. Financial instruments 



(a) Financial Risk Management Objectives and Policies 

Financial instruments held by The Western Australian Museum are cash and cash equivalents, receivables, and payables. The 

Western Australian Museum has limited exposure to financial risks. The Western Australian Museum’s overall risk management 

program focuses on managing the risks identified below. 

Credit risk 

The Western Australian Museum trades only with recognised, creditworthy third parties. The Western Australian Museum has 

policies in place to ensure that sales of products and services are made to customers with an appropriate credit history. In 

addition, receivable balances are monitored on an ongoing basis with the result that The Western Australian Museum’s exposure 

to bad debts is minimal. There are no significant concentrations of credit risk. 

Liquidity risk 

The Western Australian Museum has appropriate procedures to manage cash flows including drawdowns of appropriations by 

monitoring forecast cash flows to ensure that sufficient funds are available to meet its commitments. 

Cash flow interest rate risk 

The Western Australian Museum’s exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relate primarily to cash and cash 

equivalents and restricted cash as The Western Australian Museum’s operating bank account earns interest. Refer to note 32(b) 

for details of the weighted average effective interest rate. 

(b) Financial Instrument disclosures 

Interest Rate Risk Exposure 

The following table details The Western Australian Museum’s exposure to interest rate risk as at the balance sheet date: 

2007 Fixed Interest Rate Maturity 

Weighted Variable Within 1-5 years More than non-Interest Total 

Average effective Interest 1 year 5 years bearing 

Interest Rate Rate 

% $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 $000 

Financial Assets 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Restricted Cash 

6.03% 5,192 5,192 

and cash equivalents 6.03% 266 266 

Receivables 

Amounts receivable 

800 800 

for services 371 371 

Other current assets 140 140 

Financial Liabilities 

5,458 – – – 1,311 6,769 

Payables 661 661 

Other current liabilities 39 39 

– – – – 700 700 


Financial Assets 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Restricted Cash 

5.47% 3,138 3,138 

and cash equivalents 5.47% 416 416 

Receivables 

Amounts receivable 

667 667 

for services 330 330 

Other current assets 116 116 

Financial Liabilities 

3,554 – – – 1,113 4,667 

Payables 242 242 

Other current liabilities 135 135 

– – – – 377 377 

Fair Values 

All financial assets and liabilities recognised in the balance sheet, whether they are carried at cost or fair value, are recognised at 

amounts that represent a reasonable approximation of fair value unless otherwise stated in the applicable notes. 


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33. Remuneration of members of the accountable authority and senior officers 

Remuneration on Members of the Accountable Authority 

The number of members of the Accountable Authority, whose total of fees, salaries, superannuation, non-monetary benefits and 

other benefits for the financial year, fall within the following bands is: 


$ 

0 – 10,000 7 8 



$000 $000 

The total remuneration of members of the Accountable Authority is: 13 27 

The total remuneration includes the superannuation expense incurred by the Authority in respect of members of the Accountable 

Authority. 

No members of the Accountable Authority are members of the Pension Scheme. 

Remuneration of Senior Officers 

The number of senior officers, other than senior officers reported as members of the Accountable Authority, whose total fees, 

salaries, superannuation, non-monetary benefits and other benefits for the financial year, fall within the following bands is: 


$ 

50,001 – 60,000 1 – 

80,001 – 90,000 - 1 

100,001 – 110,000 - 2 

110,001 – 120,000 2 1 

130,001 – 140,000 1 1 

140,001 – 150,000 1 - 

160,001 – 170,000 1 - 

190,001 – 200,000 - 1 

$000 $000 

The total remuneration of senior officers is: 732 741 

The total remuneration includes the superannuation expense incurred by the Authority in respect of senior officers other than 

senior officers reported as members of the Accountable Authority. 

No senior officers are members of the Pension Scheme. 

34. Remuneration of auditor 

Remuneration payable to the Auditor General for the financial year is as follows: 

Auditing the accounts, financial statements and performance indicators 47 33 

The expense is included at note 9 ‘Other expenses’. 

35. Related and affiliated bodies 

The Western Australian Museum does not have any related or affiliated bodies under the definitions as outlined in TI 951. 

36. Supplementary financial information 

Write-Offs 

There was no public property written off during the financial year. 

Losses Through Theft, Defaults and Other Causes 

There were no losses of public moneys and, public and other property through theft or default. 

Gifts of Public Property 

There were no gifts of public property provided by The Western Australian Museum. 

Other Supplementary Information 

The Western Australian Museum holds shares in a private company received in exchange for the Museum’s support of specific 

projects. These shares are not recorded in the financial statements, as the measurement of the market value of the shares is not 

reliable. 

37. Output Information 



The Western Australian Museum operates under the one output called Museum Services. The information shown in the income 

Statement represents the output information.

cERTIfIcATION Of kEY PERfORMANcE INDIcATORS 



We hereby certify that the key performance indicators are based on proper records, are relevant and appropriate for assisting 

users to assess The Western Australian Museum’s performance, and fairly represent the performance of The Western Australian 

Museum for the financial year ended 30 June 2007. 

Tim Ungar 

Chairman of Trustees 


Steve Scudamore 

Trustee 



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kEY PERfORMANcE INDIcATORS 

ExPLANATION 

The Western Australian Museum annual budget is included in the budget statements under the outcome for 

the Department of Culture and the Arts (DCA). 

Treasurers Instruction 904 requires the Department of Culture and the Arts to coordinate the reporting of the 

key performance indicators at the whole of culture and the arts portfolio level. A revised Outcomes and KPI 

Structure was approved by the Government’s Outcome Structure Review Group during the reporting period. 

The structure aligns the Portfolio and the Museum’s desired outcomes with the Government’s Strategic 

Planning Framework Better Planning Better Futures. 

Funds allocated to the Museum are allocated under DCA service number 6 – Museum services 

(see table below). 

In 2005–06 the Museum commenced a review of the key performance indicators, this work was completed 

in 2006–07. This work was undertaken in consultation with the Office of Auditor General, Department of 

Treasury and Finance and the DCA. 

In the 2005–06 Annual report the Museum reported on 

• Number of visitors to each site of the Museum 

• Number of permanent exhibitions 

• Number of temporary exhibitions; and 

• Visitor satisfaction 

In 2006–07 the Museum (in line with the review outcomes) reports on 

• Number of visitors to each site and to the Museum website 

• Percentage of collection that is stored in suitable conditions 

• Number of objects added to the collection 

• Visitor satisfaction 

• Sustainability 

In addition the Museum provides information on the number of temporary exhibitions and responses to 

requests for information in the body of the annual report. 

Museum Outcome Structure 2006–2007 

Government Goal 

Enhancing the quality of life and wellbeing of all people throughout Western Australia by providing high quality accessible services. 

Desired Outcome 

Western Australia’s natural, cultural and documentary collections are preserved, accessible and sustainable 

Museum Services 

PRESERVATION 

Service 

Key Effectiveness Indicators 

Extent to which the State collection, that requires preservation, is preserved. 

Note: Preservation of the entire ‘Collection’ is not required, therefore this measure only relates to that part of the “Collection” that is required to 

be preserved. 

ACCESSIBILITY 

Number of people using and accessing the State collection. 

Percentage of visitors satisfied with the services associated with accessing the Museum collection. 

SUSTAINABILITY 

Value of the State collection renewal, content development and/or expansion as a proportion of collection value. 

Service Indicator 

Key Efficiency Indicator 

Museum Services Average cost of Museum services per Museum visitor or person accessing collection 


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kEY EffEcTIvENESS INDIcATOR ONE – PRESERvATION 

INDIcATOR 

Extent to which the Museum collection, that requires preservation, is preserved. 

Note: Preservation of the entire ‘Collection’ is not required, therefore this measure only relates to that part of 

the ‘Collection’ that is required to be preserved. 

MEASUREMENT 

This is the first year that the Museum has reported against this indicator, the Museum has developed bench 

line data and will report the number of items added to the collection each year 

Measurement of Indicator 2005–06 2006–07 

Proportion of collection stored in controlled environment 95.79% 97.14% 

Number of items from the collection described and recorded on the relevant 

data base 

2006–07 objects added to the collections 

681,616 704,793 

The Table below documents the number of items added to the collection in 2006–07 

Items 

added to 

Collection 

Terrestrial 

Vertebrates 

Terrestrial 

Invertebrates 

2006/07 year to date collections 

Aquatic 

Zoology 

Maritime 

History 

Maritime 

Archaeology Anthropology 


Earth & 

Planetary 

Sciences 

History Total 

July 180 637 1080 192 0 1 0 1 2091 

August 29 1970 391 8 3 0 0 15 2416 

September 152 2149 100 277 0 5 0 35 2718 

October 541 123 156 479 800 1 68 0 2168 

November 352 215 512 365 0 1 0 12 1457 

December 113 213 381 330 0 0 270 1 1308 

January 238 471 384 527 0 9 95 4 1728 

February 83 425 694 510 2 2 1258 1 2975 

March 110 291 779 117 0 4 0 1 1302 

April 53 633 524 32 1 16 0 0 1259 

May 579 768 262 563 10 1 0 0 2183 

June 113 631 535 114 20 80 66 13 1572 

Total 2543 8526 5798 3514 836 120 1757 83 23177 

notes to Table 

The above data is recorded on either a data base, register or acquisition catalogue within the various 

curatorial departments. 

One registration/ data entry may contain a number of objects, for example a number of coins from a 

shipwreck are registered as one item; a registration of a small invertebrates like shrimp or fleas may contain 

up to 1000 specimens. 

Invertebrate fossils, vertebrate fossils and fossil plants are not recorded on an electronic data base. 

Registration is conducted manually by year and is estimated at around 1 million specimens. These items 

are not included in the above list and will be entered in 2007–08. 

Maritime History collection includes the Maritime History and Bourne collection data bases 

Images held in the old Maritime History digital image databases and the slide and negative collections are 

to be added after verification. It is anticipated this will occur during 2007–08. 

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kEY EffEcTIvENESS INDIcATOR TWO – AccESSIBILITY 

INDIcATOR 

Number of people using and accessing the State collection. 

Percentage of visitors satisfied with the services associated with using and accessing the State collection 

MEASUREMENT 

This indicator measures the number of visitors to each of the Museum sites. It is argued that visitation 

reflects the ability of the Museum to provide relevant and engaging exhibitions ad programs. 

Measurement of Indicator 2004–05 2005–06 Targets Actual 2006–07 

Number of visitors to Museum sites 864,784 857,561 863,795 838,350 

Number of visitors to web site – unique visits n/a 262,259 264,000 396,986 

Percentage of visitors satisfied with the services 

of the Museum’s sites 

73.7% 

(very good and 

excellent) 

70.5% 

(very good and 

excellent) 


72% 70.2 1 % 

(very good) 

Overall visitation to The Western Australian Museum in 2006–07 was 838,350 visitors, 2% down on the 

previous year. This outcome reflects a variety of visitation results experienced by the Museum’s individual 

sites of which some have had a year with significant growth in visitation. 

The Western Australian Museum – Albany achieved a 5% increase in overall visitation whilst an 84% 

increase was recorded for visitation by school groups to the site. 

Visitation to The Western Australian Museum – Perth grew by 1% which is a particularly positive result in the light 

of the 33% increase in the previous year and the fact that this high number of visitors was not only maintained 

but even exceeded in 2006/07. Visitation by school groups to Perth site grew as well namely by 9%. 

A significant increase in visitation by school groups was also achieved by the Fremantle History site which 

received 37% more school group visitors than in the previous year. And finally, 3% more visitors than in the 

previous year were attracted by The Western Australian Museum – Geraldton. 

100000 

90000 

80000 

70000 

60000 

50000 

40000 

30000 

20000 

10000 

0 

2005 – 06 

2006 – 07 

Comparative Attendance figures 2005 – 2006 and 2006 – 2007 

Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun 

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Western Australian Museum – Perth 

COMPARATIVe ATTenDAnCe FIGuReS 2005 – 2006 AnD 2006–2007 


2006–2007 274,518 20,233 294,751 

2005–2006 273,025 18,592 291,617 

Maritime Museum Victoria Quay and Submarine 


2005–2006 163,738 17,351 181,089 



2005–2006 145,716 10,970 156,686 

Fremantle History Museum and Samson House 


2005–2006 29,974 3,422 33,396 

Western Australian Museum – Albany 


2005–2006 70,513 1,981 72,494 

Western Australian Museum – Geraldton 


2005–2006 40,314 2,710 43,024 

Western Australian Museum – Kalgoorlie – Boulder 


2005–2006 77,668 1,587 79,255 

Western Australian Museum Annual Totals 


2005–2006 800,948 56,613 857,561 

Western Australian Museum Annual Totals 



2005–2006 800,948 56,613 857,561 


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MOnTHly VISITORS 2006–2007 

SITE Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun TOTAL 

Perth 32,668 20,099 21,474 26,581 21,806 27,327 33,818 16,942 21,743 27,557 17,495 27,241 294,751 

Frem History 

+ Samson H 

Maritime 

Museum 

Shipwreck 

Gallery 

2,947 2,335 2,446 3,236 3,198 2,551 3,694 2,094 3,083 2,428 2,264 2,679 32,955 

13,547 12,732 13,640 16,731 15,769 14,193 18,951 9,436 14,787 14,635 11,864 9,898 166,183 

12,210 10,912 13,770 15,160 12,565 13,641 17,628 10,451 12,875 14,462 11,223 10,144 155,041 

Albany 6,957 4,565 5,855 7,712 5,376 5,675 10,768 4,995 5,136 8,191 5,076 5,529 75,835 

Geraldton 4,960 3,907 4,086 7,079 2,643 2,942 4,313 2,439 2,900 3,742 2,746 2,432 44,189 

Kalgoorlie 6,789 6,020 8,863 11,095 6,273 5,045 5,098 2,829 3,703 5,229 4,251 4,201 69,396 

TOTAL 80,078 60,570 70,134 87,594 67,630 71,374 94,270 49,186 64,227 76,244 54,919 62,124 838,350 

Visitor satisfaction overall visit July 2006–June 2007 

Overall ratings 

of Museum 

Aspects 

2006/2007 

Total 

(n=3,228) 

Perth 

Fremantle 

History 

Maritime 

Shipwreck 

Galleries 


Albany Geraldton Kalgoorlie 

Very Poor 0.1% – – – 0.2% – 0.3% – 

Poor 0.3% 0.4% – 0.2% – 0.8% 0.5% – 

Average 2.3% 3.4% 1.6% 3.1% 2.2% 6.1% 0.8% – 

Good 26.4% 38.8% 13.0% 36.8% 29.8% 51.3% 15.7% 6.1% 

Very Good 70.2% 56.8% 85.1% 59.6% 67.3% 41.7% 80.0% 93.9% 

Visitor satisfaction overall visit July 2005 – June 2006 

Overall ratings 

of Museum 

Aspects 

2005/2006 

Total 

(n=2,619) 

Perth 

Fremantle 

History 

Maritime Shipwreck 

Galleries 


Poor 0.6% 0.5% 0.6% 0.8% – 1.9% – 0.3% 

Good 29.0% 47.2% 15.8% 37.9% 31.6% 53.1% 6.9% 10.9% 

Very Good 43.7% 46.2% 63.5% 44.0% 45.7% 42.2% 45.4% 21.8% 

Excellent 26.8% 6.1% 20.2% 17.2% 22.7% 2.9% 47.7% 67.1% 

Visitor ratings of general exhibitions July 2006 – June 2007 

General 

exhibitions 

rating 

2006/2007 

Total 

(n=3,076) 

Perth 

Fremantle 

History 

Maritime Shipwreck 

Galleries 


Very Poor 0.1% – – – 0.4% – 0.3% – 

Poor 0.3% – 0.3% 0.4% 0.2% 0.5% 0.6% – 

Average 3.2% 5.2% 1.4% 3.1% 2.6% 9.6% 2.0% – 

Good 29.9% 47.7% 16.5% 36.8% 31.4% 55.3% 19.7% 8.1% 

Very Good 65.4% 46.2% 81.6% 59.4% 65.1% 31.3% 75.0% 91.6% 

The satisfaction ratings are from a sample survey of the 838,350 visitors to The Western Australian Museum 

in 2006/2007. The survey involved face to face interviews conducted on a random basis with 3,303 visitors 

throughout the period July 2006 to June 2007. The survey methodology ensured the Museum obtained a 

95% confidence level with a standard error rate of between +/- 1.70 and 1.75 per cent. The standard error 

rate for 2005/2006 was 1.91 per cent. 

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kEY EffEcTIvENESS INDIcATOR THREE – SUSTAINABILITY 

INDIcATOR 

Value of Museum collection renewal, content development and/or expansion as a proportion of collection 

value. 

MEASUREMENT 

This will be calculated dividing the Museums annual budget excluding grants and sponsorship by the value 

of the collection. The result will be a percentage figure that demonstrates the percentage of the collection 

value spent annually by Government in renewal, content development or expansion of the collection. 

It is proposed to benchmark this figure against other Museum collections and to average the indicator over 

five years. 

It was not possible to establish targets for this indicator in the first year. 

Reporting has been calculated for the years from when the collection was valued. The collection was first 

valued in 2005–06. 

Year Collection valuation 

5 Year Rolling Average Income from 

State Government 2 

2005–06 $176,596,000 $17,149,600 9.7% 

2006–07 $205,933,100 $17,838,400 8.66% 

kEY EffIcIENcY INDIcATOR 

Average cost of Museum services per Museum visitor or person accessing collection. 

Access includes 

• Visitor attendance figures 

• Unique visits to the Museum website 

Year Cost per visitor 3 

2004–05 Not Available 4 

2005–06 $24.75 

Target 2006–07 Not Available 

Actual 2006–07 $23.95 

(Footnotes) 

1 The categories measuring visitor satisfaction were amended in 2006–07 to provide more accurate results and to bring The 

WA Museum in line with national museum data collection models. 

2 Income from State Government excludes Capital User Charge and Assets Assumed 

3 Excludes Department of Culture and the Arts Overhead Costs 

4 Comparable Cost per Visitor figure is not available due to a changed measurement methodology 



KEI

cOMPLIANcE REPORT 

TREASURER’S INSTRUcTION 903 

THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM 2006/2007 

ExPENDITURE RELATED TO ADvERTISINg AND MARkET RESEARcH ORgANISATIONS 

In accordance with Section 175ZE of the Electoral Act 1907 expenditure by 

The Western Australian Museum on advertising and related costs is listed below 

a). Advertising Agencies Nil 

b). Market research organisations Nil 

c). Polling organisations Nil 

d). Direct mail organisations 

e). Media advertising organisations 

Job vacancies 

Nil 

Marketforce Ltd $9,453.99 

Media Decisions $802.16 

Museums Australia $86.36 

Southside Personnel Services $2,870.00 

Total – Job Vacancies $13,212.51 

Other 

Aiccm $50.00 

Albany Advertiser P/L $1,381.22 

Ascert Australia Pty Ltd $381.82 

Assoc Of Perth Attractions $150.00 

Australia’s Golden Outback $772.73 

Boulder Promotion $180.00 

Channel 9 Perth $800.00 

Coast & Country Magazine $300.00 

Countrywide Publications $3,063.66 

Datatrax Pty Ltd $200.00 

Digital Ads International P/L $1,525.00 

Eyezon Pty Ltd $681.80 

Geraldton Newspapers Ltd $160.00 

Guardian Print Geraldton $323.64 

Kalgoorlie Boulder Tourist Cen $1,266.82 

Marketforce Productions $7,436.33 

Media Decisions Wa $214,942.11 

National Email Di $5,836.41 

Perth Convention Bureau $2,500.00 

Radiowest Broadcasters P/L $1,304.92 

Sensis Pty Ltd $4,366.00 

The Fremantle Book $650.00 

The Geraldton Guadian $231.00 

Weekender $300.00 

West Australian Newspapers Li m $741.05 

Total – Other $249,544.51 

Total Media Advertising $262,757.02 


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DISABILITY AccESS INcLUSION PLAN 

In 2006-07 The Western Australian Museum developed a disability access inclusion plan in line with the 

Disability Services Act 1993. The Museum has developed a series of initiatives under each of the six desired 

outcomes 

Outcome 1: People with disabilities have the same opportunities as other people to access the services 

of, and any events organised by, a public authority. 

• visitor services staff interact directly and regularly with people with disabilities. During 2006, a series 

of workshops were provided to staff on disability awareness. 

• a special education program Puss in Boats was developed for The Western Australian Museum – 

Shipwreck Galleries and trialed by a group of students at the Ballajura Secondary College. It was launched 

at the end of 2006 to high acclaim from the teachers at Ballajura Secondary College who commented 

that it was “the best excursion we have ever been on”. Uptake by special education groups in increasing 

and a second program is being developed for The Western Australian Museum – Maritime. 

• education staff members now conduct tours of Shipwreck Galleries for the visually impaired where 

participants handle items such as cannon balls, ballast bricks, cannon and other artefacts. 

• the Light and Sound Discovery Centre, has recently developed a virtual reality panorama presentation of 

the Clarion Gold exhibition on the second floor following a special request by a visitor using a wheelchair. 

Digital images produced a panoramic sweep of the exhibition shown on a screen in a downstairs 

gallery. Hands-on items were also brought downstairs to be looked at and handled, as well as close-up 

photographs of some items. 

• all program content can be adapted to suit a variety of levels and education staff members are happy to 

do this by liaising with teachers on the students’ ability. 

• most programs include handling artefacts and objects. An example of this is the Katta Djinoong programs 

which allow students to hold and examine real Aboriginal tools. Dinosaur and fossil programs provide 

fossils for students to pass around and draw and Swan River programs provide a range for old-fashioned 

games and household items. For groups with special needs, handling these objects can be emphasized 

or expanded. 

• signage is placed at the front of displays, rather than on the back walls of cabinets. 

• all teachers attending with disabled students are provided with feedback forms on booking 

• new programs are trialled with feedback from teachers used to refine and improve the program and all 

program content can be adapted to suit a variety of levels. Education staff are happy to do this by liaising 

with teachers on the students’ ability and requirements 

• educational programs Sydney to the Sound and A Convict Colony for students with special needs from 

the Albany Secondary Education Support Unit. 

• Museum@Work lecture series and workshop were adapted for presentation at the Albany Spencer Park 

Education Support Unit. 

• Kalgoorlie site has arranged its education programs to encourage disabled people, especially children. 

• in consultation with teachers, Perth site can develop new programs that specifically address needs or 

reflect learning experiences in the classroom 

• an outreach program has been designed where loan items and other objects from the museum are taken 

out to special education schools – bringing the museum to the school 

• where groups are focusing on social skills, Museum education staff can place more emphasis on certain 

aspects of visiting a museum, for example, learning and following museum rules, respecting the rights 

other visitors and asking and answering questions. 

• the Museum’s exhibition and design department designed a suite of sustainable showcases that address 

wheelchair accessibility problems, such as height. 


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Outcome 2: People with disabilities have the same opportunities as other People to access the 

buildings and other facilities of a public authority 

• Museum staff will relocate or adapt a program when special access is required and provide satisfactory 

alternatives for participants in holiday programs where activities are held upstairs. 

• Kalgoorlie site designed all exhibitions to allow access for people in wheelchairs – this includes ramps to 

outside buildings and hard-packed paths in the ethno-botanic garden. 

• the Museum has engaged Kelsall Binet Architects to prepare a scope of works and cost schedule to 

implement a disability access audit at Shipwreck Galleries – work began in August this year and is 

expected to be completed by October. 

Outcome 3: People with disabilities receive information from a public authority in a format that will 

enable them to access the information as readily as other people are able to access it. 

• Education website activities and information sheets are provided as pdf’s that can be enlarged 

electronically if requested. 

• Perth visitors can use the virtual galleries and the WA Land and People online exhibition. 

• Albany site use large print flyers and information sheets for the Active Minds – Museum@work lecture 

series for vision impaired participants. 

• The dramatic presentations of “Mrs Stirling” in the Swan River Colony program and ‘Ilona’ in the Post- 

War Immigration program have been filmed so they can be shown to groups in alternative locations. This 

also allows the presentations to be paused to allow more time to absorb the content. 

. 

Outcome 4: People with disabilities receive the same level and quality of service from the staff of a 

public authority as other people receive from the staff of that public authority. 

• In addition to adding the phrase Please advise if special disability access is required to all relevant 

education printed material, if staff are also informed during telephone bookings, spaces with universal 

access will be arranged as some sites have areas that cannot be accessed by wheelchair. 

Outcome 5: People with disabilities have the same opportunities as other people to make complaints 

to a public authority. 

• A review of the complaints policy to ensure it is provided in alternate formats on request. 

• Feedback forms that include symbols such as happy or sad faces; 

• The Museum will consider the development of Gallery Guides in electronic format and consultations will 

be arranged at that time to ensure they will be accessible to all people. 

Outcome 6:People with disabilities have the same opportunities as other people to participate in any 

public consultation by a public authority. 

• The Museum has developed three initiatives under this outcome area that will be developed in 2007–08: 

• Exhibition development focus groups to include people with disabilities; Developing a museum contact 

list of people with special needs interested in providing comments and feedback on issues. 

• Looking at the use of marketing strategies as a way to increase visitation and engagement by people with 

disabilities to the Museum. 


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Full Time Equivalent (FTE) 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY OUTcOMES 

The FTE for your organisation as at 30 June 2007 is 201.8 

Notes: 

The number of FTEs paid during the last pay period of the reporting period. One FTE is one full time job for 

one financial year on the basis of hours worked to normal Award/Agreement hour provisions. 

Demographics by employment Type and Gender 

Employment Type Women Men Total 

Permanent Full-time 64 61 125 

Permanent Part-time 59 22 81 

Fixed Term Full-time 18 16 34 

Fixed Term Part-time 12 2 14 

Casual paid on 30 June 31 15 46 

Other* 2 0 2 

Total 186 116 302 

* Employees seconded in or out of the organisation 

Age Profile 

Age Women Men Total % of Total Workforce 

Less than 25 years 10 5 15 5.0 

Greater than 45 years 96 68 164 54.3 

Total 106 73 179 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) 

The Western Australian Museum is committed to equity and diversity by encouraging the employment of 

Indigenous Australians, young people, people with disabilities, people from culturally diverse backgrounds 

and women. 

The Western Australian Museum participates as a member of the Culture and the Arts Portfolio Equity and 

Diversity Reference Group. In December 2006 the Reference Group completed the planning, consultation 

and development for a new portfolio wide Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Management Plan 

2007–09 to achieve the objectives under the Government’s Equity and Diversity Plan for the Public Sector 

Workforce. 

Western Australian Museum representation across the diversity groups as at 30 June 2007 

* A measure of the distribution of a diversity group across all classification levels. If the distribution for the 

diversity group is the same as for all employees in the organisation, then the equity index is 100 (ideal). 

Equity Indexes are not available for a sample size of 10 or less and for youth distribution as the value is no 

longer meaningful. 

cOMPLIANcE WITH PUBLIc SEcTOR STANDARDS AND ETHIcAL cODES 

The Western Australian Museum has complied in the administration of public sector standards in human 

resource management and the public sector code of ethics. 

While The Western Australian Museum employees are employees of the Director General of the Department of 

Culture and the Arts, the Chief Executive Officer of The Western Australian Museum has delegated authority 

with respect to employment. 

Human resources support services are provided by the human resources team of the Department of Culture 

and the Arts with an officer located at the Museum. Specific advice on compliance with the standards is 

provided for recruitment, secondment, termination, performance management and grievance resolution. 


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Compliance with the Public Sector Standards and Ethical Codes is assessed by regular internal and external 

reviews of related procedures and staff feedback. 

A new portfolio wide performance management system, the Staff Development System (SDS) has been 

developed and implemented to meet the requirements of the Public Sector Standards in Human Resource 

Management for Performance Management. 

Training in performance management processes has been conducted for all line managers to ensure a 

consistent approach to assessing, developing and managing employee performance. The system provides 

a strategy for long-term workforce planning and supports employees’ ongoing development and increased 

job satisfaction. 

An ethics and integrity awareness raising program has commenced and includes awareness on the Public 

Sector Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Sector Standards in Human Resource Management. 

There were no breaches of the Public Sector Standards in Human Resource Management for the annual 

reporting period 2006–2007. 

In addition Museum staff adhere to the Department of Environment and Conservation animal ethics standard 

operating procedures and the Animal Welfare Act 2002 License to Use Animals for Scientific Purposes. 

REcORD kEEPINg PLANS 

The Museum’s functional retention and disposal schedule was approved by State Records Commission in 

October 2006 and implemented on TRIM shortly thereafter. All files now are created with a retention and 

disposal schedule on them. 

The Museum TRIM Capturer was upgraded in February 2007 to TRIM Context. Implementation has begun 

on an electronic documents records management system. 

A review and rewrite of the Museum’s recordkeeping plan is also underway. 

Training in records management and TRIM has been extended both within the Museum’s headquarters and 

to the regional offices, with the Fremantle sites and Kalgoorlie office soon to follow. The Museum’s collection 

management area records are now being captured. 

An introduction to records management and basic procedures are being included in the staff induction program. 

cORRUPTION PREvENTION 

The Western Australian Museum has an internal audit function, and the Department of Culture and the Arts 

Audit and Risk Management Unit has a comprehensive internal audit plan which reviews the Museum’s 

operations. 

DCA Finance has a system of standard internal controls which are monitored constantly through the year 

and are subject to internal audit on a rotation basis. All staff who handle cash have received training in 

appropriate procedures. 

SUSTAINABILITY 

Under the State Sustainability Strategy the State Government identified significant economic savings to 

government infrastructure and services and reduced car dependence and transport emissions in urban 

redevelopment projects rather than new fringe developments. In 2005 the City of Wanneroo and the 

Government entered into a Memorandum of Understanding that established the Wanneroo Town Centre 

Partnership. The partnership was based on a funding commitment of $8 million by the Government and 

$21 million from the City of Wanneroo. The Museum has been involved in planning for two of the projects 

identified – a new cultural and learning centre, which is a combined library and museum building, and more 

recently, the revitalised Wanneroo Town Centre. 

This is one of Australia’s fastest growing areas and the museum will continue to provide expertise to ensure 

that both the cultural and learning centre and a revitalised Wanneroo Town Centre improve the physical, 

social and economic well-being of the Wanneroo community. 


< back to contents>

Fellows 

[ APPENDIcES ] 

fELLOWS, HONORARY ASSOcIATES, RESEARcH ASSOcIATES 

Mr John Bannister MA FLS FZS 

Sir Charles Court AK KCMG OBE 

Mr Koichiro Ejiri AC 

Honorary Associates 

Mr Kim Akerman BSc 

Mr Graham Anderton BEd TeachCert DipPhysEd HTC 

Emeritus Professor Winston Bailey 

Dr Basil E. Balme BSc PhD DSc 

Mr John Bannister MA FLS FZS 

Mr Hugh J. W. Barnes 

Dr Paddy Berry 

Dr Phil Bland 

Professor Walter Bloom 

Professor Geoffrey Bolton AO MA DPhil 

Mr Darren Brooks 

Dr Alanah Buck PhD 

Dr Andrew Burbidge BSc(Hons) PhD 

Mr W. H. (Harry) Butler CBE CitWA 

Ms Rinske Car Driesens AAICCM 

Mr Ken Colbung AM MBE JP 

Mr Mark Cowan 

Dr Ian Crawford BA(Hons) DipPrehistoricArchaeol MA PhD 

Mr Mark Creasy 

Dr Tony Cunningham PhD 

Professor John de Laeter AO BSc(Hons) BEd(Hons) PhD 

DSc 

Mr John Dell 

Mr Thomas Dercksen 

Ms Frances Dodds 

Mr Stefan Eberhard 

Mr Hugh Edwards 

Mr Rob Foulds BA DipEd GradDipAppSc 

Dr Leonard Freedman BSc PhD 

Associate Professor Emilio Ghisalberti BSc(Hons) PhD 

Mr Geoff Glazier 

Professor John Glover BSc(Hons) PhD 

Mr Philippe Godard 

Professor Richard Gould PhD 

Mr Ted Graham 

Mrs Glad Hansen 

Ms Sally Anne Hasluck 

Ms Joy Hewitt 

Mr David Hutchison BEng(Hons) BA DipEd 

Dr Hugh Jones LRCP (Lon.); MRCS (Eng); MD 

Dr Simon Judd 

Hon. Mr Justice Kennedy BA LLB BCL 

Dr W. D. L. (David) Ride AM MA DPhil 

Dr Peter Kendrick PhD 

Mr Kevin F. Kenneally AM 

Professor Kim Kirsner BSc BComm PhD 

Mr Nicholas Kolichis 

Ms Billie Lefroy 

Ms Jane Lefroy 

Mr G. A. Lodge 

Mr Alan Longbottom 

Dr G. J. H. (Joe) McCall DSc PhD 

Mr R. P. (Peter) McMillan AM DFC BSc MSc 

Associate Professor Kenneth McPherson PhD 

Ms Mary Macha 

Professor A. R. (Bert) Main CBE FAA BSc(Hons) PhD 

Dr Barbara York Main BSc(Hons) PhD 

Mr Kevin Morgan BSc 

Mr Hugh Morrison 

Dr David Pearson 

Emeritus Professor John Penrose PhD 

Dr Phillip Playford AM BSc(Hons) PhD DSc 

Mr R. (Brian) Pope BA(Hons) MPhil 

Mr Ed Punchard 

Mr Richard Rennie 

Dr Geoff Richardson BSc(Hons) PhD 

Mr Frank Richmond 

Dr J. D. (Dale) Roberts PhD 

Mr Bruce Robinson BSc(Hons) 

Mr Robin Roe 

Mr Colin S. Sanders BSc(Hons) MSc 

Mr Jon Sanders AO OBE 

Ms Lamberta Schekkerman 

Dr Mikael Siversson 

Mr Laurie Smith 

Mr Tom A Smith 

Mr Craig Somerville BA (Anthrop. History) 

Mr Roy Teale 

Mr Kerry Thom 

Ms Heather Tunmore 

Mr David Vaughan 

Mr Brian Vine 

Mr Louis Warren AM 

Professor Philip Withers BSc(Hons) PhD 


< back to contents>


– Aboriginal Advisory Committee 

Ms Irene Stainton (Chair) 

Mr Brian Blurton 

Mr Ken Colbung 

Ms Carly Lane 

Mr Barry McGuire 

Mr John Mallard 

Ms Michelle Webb 


– Maritime Archaeology Advisory Committee 

Professor Geoffrey Bolton (Chair) 

Dr Ian Crawford 

Professor John Penrose 

Mr John Morhall 

Professor David Dolan 

Mr Ian Baxter 

Mr Clive Tolley 

Dr Steve Newman 


– Australia netherlands Committee 

on Old Dutch Shipwrecks 

Dr John Bach OAM, (Australia representative) (Chair) 

Prof Geoffrey Bolton AO MA DPhil CitWA (Australia 

representative) 

Dr Astrid Otte-Klomp (Netherlands representative) 

Mr Joost Kirkwager (Netherlands representative) 

Mr Kevin Keefee (Commonwealth representative) 


– Maritime Museum Advisory Committee 

Mr Ray Glickman (Chair) 

Dr Nonja Peters 

Mrs Pat Barblett 

Mr David Lynn 

Mr Ron Packer 

Hon Richard Court AC 

Professor Geoff Shellam 

Ms Jaime Phillips 

Mr Warwick Gately AM 

Ms Astrid Norgard 

Professor Geoffrey Bolton AO CitWA 

ADvISORY cOMMITTEES 


– Albany Advisory Committee 

Mr Chris Gunby (Chair) 

Cr Bob Emery 

Ms Ainslie Evans 

Dr Barbara Cook 

Ms Vernice Gillies 

Mr Digger Cleak OAM 

Ms Annette Davis 

Mr Malcolm Traill 


– Geraldton Advisory Committee 

Mr Allan Gronow (Chair) 

Mr Bob Urquhart 

Mr Ron Ashplant 

Dr Mort Harslett 

Mr Graham Eaton 

Ms Anne Jefferys 

Mr Simon Forrest 

Ms Andrea Jones 

Ms Vicki Martyn 

Mr Malcolm Smith 

The Western Australian Museum Kalgoorlie 

– boulder Advisory Committee 

Mr Barry Kingston (Chair) 

Mr Frank Andinach 

Ms Barbara Piercey 

Mr Russell Cole 

Mr Robert Singer 

Mrs Caroline Stokes 

Cr Susan Williams 


< back to contents>

Annette Adams 

John Adamson 

Graeme Adamson 

Donald Alexander 

Dick Anderson 

Gwenda Anderson 

Rodney Anthony 

Geoffrey Arnold 

Gaynor Ashford 

David Austen 

June Aveling 

Mike Beilby 

Jessica Berry 

Ian Bishop 

Lloyd Blake 

Mary Borgan 

John Boycott 

Peter Bridge 

David Briegal 

Robert Broome 

Ted Brown 

Jill Brown 

Pam Bullin 

Lily Bux 

Tristan Campbell 

John Caskey 

John Cassell 

John Catling 

Morgan Catling 

Narelle Catling 

Mark Cawthorn 

Cameron Clark 

Phil Cockayne 

Brenton Cockayne 

David Coleman 

Geraldine Cook 

Gary Coombe 

Darren Cooper 

Robert Coulter 

Bill Cowan 

Leslie Coy 

Alwyn Coyne 

Susan Crisp 

Jenny Crouch 

Matteo Cuccovia 

Rosemarie Cull 

Peter Curtin 

Sid Czabotar 

Hazel Darnell 

Pam Davey 

Krystyna De Luis 

Barbara Den Hartog 

Richard Dimond 

Jan Dols 

Ian Dunn 

Len Eckermann 

Jasmine Edwards 

Stewart Elston 

Marnie Exham 

Keith Farley 

Keith Fellowes 

Malcolm E. Finney 

Paul Freeman 

Don Gilford 

David Glenister 

Linda Godlonton 

Pedro Gomes 

John Gorham 

Di Grogan 

Anne Gunson 

Robin Hamilton 

Kaylene Heard 

David Higham 

Alf Holman 

Jan Hosking 

Max Howard 

Keith Howe 

Dennis Inglis 

Richard Ireland 

Bob Ivery 

Mike Jacquemin 

Kim Johnson 

Judy Johnston 

Christine Johnstone 

Derek Jowles 

Simon Keenan 

Patrick Keogh 

Patrick Keogh 

Peter Kerr 

Peta Knott 

Terry Knowles 

Genevieve Konig 

Joe Kroger 

Brian Lakey 

John Larsen 

Dorothy Laycock 

Brian Leary 

Jean Leary 

Doug Lee 

Lindsay Lockhart 

vOLUNTEERS 

Ian Lorimer 

Clarissa Machin 

Marian Mackay 

Christine Mair 

Don Manser 

Pamela Marshall 

Will Marwick 

Kate Marwick 

Peter Mathea 

Helen Mc Call 

Alexander (Sandy) Mc Call 

Terry Mc Call 

Ian Mc Kendrick 

Alex McAllister 

Denise McCalmont 

Phillip McCarthy 

Debbie McCarthy 

Campbell McCullough 

Kali McHarg 

Don McRoberts 

Ian Mettam 

Albert Miles 

Tracey Miller 

Gary Miller 

Len Mills 

Daniel Monks 

Otto Mueller 

Alie Mulder 

Alan Murdoch 

Margo Murphy 

Martin Navara 

Doreen Newell 

Ramon Newman 

Arthur Newnham 

Tony North 

Jenny O’Connor 

Hilary Oliver 

Ann Parker 

Alistair Paterson 

Yvonne Paterson 

Malcolm Patman 

John Pattison 

Frank Penistan 

Irene Penistan 

Don Penson 

Cassandra Philippou 

Hillary Phillips-Ryley 

Carl Pisani 

Pamela Plunkett 

Ron Pomphrey 



David Poyser 

Sim Prall 

William Preston 

Patricia Randell 

Arthur Reeve 

Jessie Renwick 

Aileen Reynolds 

John Rice 

Frances Rivera 

James Robinson 

Jai Robinson 

Ashley Sanders 

Kim Sarti 

Michael Seats 

Allan Seymour 

Moya Sharp 

Graham Shepherd 

Robert Sheppard 

Graham Sheppard 

Margaret Shokker 

Lucy Sinclair 

Ria Sjerp 

Robert Skattebol 

Stephen Smith 

Tatiana Spence 

Isabel (Tibby) Struthers 

Lawrence Swain 

Judy Swain 

Lucinda Sweet 

Vern Thomas 

Jeff Thompson 

Henry Thuys 

Charlie Tong 

John Tout 

Larry Updegrove 

Gerry Vink 

Muriel Vivoda 

Don Watson 

John White 

Mark Wilsher 

Esper Windsor 

Hannah Witherden 

Peter Worsley 

Joy Yates 

Chen Yeng Loo 

Greg Young

STAff MEMBERSHIP Of ExTERNAL PROfESSIONAL cOMMITTEES 

Ross Anderson, Associate Member, Advisory Council for 

Underwater Archaeology. 

Ross Anderson, President, Australasian Institute for Maritime 

Archaeology. 

Stephen Anstey, Chair, LotteryWest/Museums Australia 

Cultural Heritage Interpretation Grants Assessment 

Committee. 

Stephen Anstey, Joint Western Australian representative 

on the Collections Council of Australia National Museums 

Standards Taskforce. 

Stephen Anstey, Member, Advisory Committee, Edith Cowan 

University Certificate of Museum Studies. 

Alex Bevan, Councillor and Immediate Past President, Royal 

Society of WA. 

Alex Bevan, Member, Editorial Board, Australian 

Gemmologist. 

Alex Bevan, Member, Board of Earth Science WA. 

Alex Bevan, Member, Muses – C Task Force for the Australian 

Academy of Science. 

Alex Bevan, Organising Committee, Inaugural Global 

Geotourism Conference to be held in Perth in 2008. 

Walter Bloom, Chair, Paul Simon Memorial Award 

Committee. 

Walter Bloom, Editor, Perth Numismatic Society Journal. 

Walter Bloom, Managing Editor, ICOMON e-Proceedings. 

Walter Bloom, Member, Editorial Board, Journal of the 

Numismatic Association of Australia. 

Walter Bloom, Member, ICOMON Board. 

Walter Bloom, President, Numismatic Association of 

Australia. 

Walter Bloom, President, Perth Numismatic Society. 

Walter Bloom, Section Author, International Survey of 

Numismatic Research (2003-2008). 

Walter Bloom, Western Australian Delegate, Council of the 

Numismatic Association of Australia. 

Wendy Bradshaw, Member, Australian Registrars Committee. 

Clay Bryce, Member, Australian Coral Reef Society 83rd 

Annual Conference Organising Committee. 

Dawn Casey, Chairperson, Centre for Cultural Materials 

Conservation. 

Dawn Casey, Member, Australian Centre for Christianity and 

Culture. 

Dawn Casey, Member, Centre for Applied History and 

Heritage Studies Advisory Committee, Queensland University. 

Dawn Casey, Member, Centre for Public Culture and Ideas 

Advisory Committee, Griffiths University. 

Dawn Casey, Member, Council of Australian Museum 

Directors. 

Dawn Casey, Member, Indigenous Working Party of the 

Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National 

University. 

Dawn Casey, Member, Nature Based Tourism Advisory 

Committee. 

Ross Chadwick, Member, Australian Registrars Committee. 

Clare-Frances Craig, Member, Burt Memorial Hall Strategic 

Group. 

Clare-Frances Craig, Member, Steering Committee Sharing 

Our Stories. 

Clare-Frances Craig, Member, Local Government Officers 

Group, Management of Local Government Authority Cultural 

Heritage Collections, Greater Metropolitan Perth Region. 

Paul Doughty, Adjunct Lecturer, University of Western 

Australia. 



Paul Doughty, President, Australian Society of Herpetologists. 

Paul Doughty, Co-editor, Records of The Western Australian 

Museum. 

Volker Framenau, Editor, Australasian Arachnology. 

Volker Framenau, Member, Editorial Board (English texts), 

Korean Arachnology. 

Volker Framenau, Subject Editor ‘Lycosoidea’, Zootaxa. 

Jane Fromont, Member, Marine Futures Working Group 

Committee. 

David Gilroy, Member, Advisory Commitee, Rottnest Island 

Heritage. 

Ian Godfrey, Chairman, Applied and Analytical Chemistry and 

Biological Sciences Course Consultative Committee, Edith 

Cowan University. 

Ian Godfrey, Committee Member, Australian Institute for the 

Conservation of Cultural Materials Inc. (WA Division). 

Sue Graham-Taylor, Associate Member, Professional 

Historians Association. 

Sue Graham-Taylor, Member, Advisory Committee, 

Environmental Protection Authority. 

Sue Graham-Taylor, Member, Plastics and Chemicals Industry 

Association Advisory Committee. 

Sue Graham-Taylor, Member, Shark Bay Terrestrial Reserves 

Committee Advisory Committee. 

Sue Graham-Taylor, Member, Shark Bay World Heritage 

Community Advisory Committee. 

Sue Graham-Taylor, Vice President, History Council of 

Western Australia. 

Jeremy Green, Associate Member, Advisory Council for 


Jeremy Green, Advisory Editor, International Journal of 

Nautical Archaeology. 

Jeremy Green, Chair, ECOR Maritime Archaeology Working 

Group. 

Jeremy Green, Joint Editor, Australasian Institute for Maritime 

Archaeology Bulletin. 

Mark Harvey, Member, Arachnology Nomenclature 

Committee to advise International Commission on Zoological 

Nomenclature. 

Mark Harvey, Member, WA Threatened Species Scientific 

Advisory Committee. 

Mark Harvey, Member, WA Scientific Advisory Committee for 

Threatened Ecological Communities. 

Mark Harvey, Systematics Editor, Journal of Arachnology. 

Mark Harvey, Vice-President, International Society of 

Arachnology. 

Terry Houston, Member, WA Threatened Species Scientific 

Advisory Committee. 

Terry Houston, Secretary, WA Insect Study Society Inc. 

Ric How, Adjunct Professor, School of Anatomy and Human 

Biology, University of Western Australia. 

Ric How, Member, Course Consultative Committee, School of 

Natural Sciences, Edith Cowan University. 

Ric How, Member, IUCN Australian Marsupial and 

Monotreme Specialist Group.

Ric How, Member, IUCN Australian Reptile and Amphibian 

Specialist Group. 

Ric How, Member, Perth Zoological Gardens Research 

Committee. 

Bill Humphreys, Board Member, Centre for Groundwater 

Studies. 

Bill Humphreys, Editorial Board, Subterranean Biology. 

Bill Humphreys, Editorial Board, Records of The Western 

Australian Museum. 

Bill Humphreys, Member, Commonwealth Threatened 

Species Scientific Committee. 

Bill Humphreys, Member, Freshwater Protected Areas 

Working Group: Australian Society of Limnology. 

Bill Humphreys, Member, North West Cape Karst 

Management Advisory Committee. 

Bill Humphreys, Member, W.A. Scientific Advisory Committee 

for Threatened Ecological Communities. 

Bill Humphreys, Vice-President, International Society of 

Subterranean Biology. 

Barry Hutchins, Member, Threatened Fishes Committee. 

Barry Hutchins, Museum Representative, Abrolhos Islands 

Marine Advisory Committee. 

Barry Hutchins, Scientific Advisor, Australian Anglers 

Association Records Authority. 

Barry Hutchins, State Representative, Australian Society for 

Fish Biology. 

Barry Hutchins, State Representative, Australian Standard 

Fish Names Committee. 

Ron Johnstone, Member, Animal Ethics Committee, 

Department of Environment and Conservation. 

Ron Johnstone, Member, Australasian Ornithological 

Conference Committee. 

Ron Johnstone, Member, OZCAM Advisory Committee. 

Diana Jones, Member, Council of Heads of Australian Faunal 

Collections. 

Diana Jones, Governor, Western Australian Marine Science 

Institute. 

Diana Jones, Board Member, Western Australian Marine 

Science Institute. 

Diana Jones, Member, Research and Development 

Committee, Western Australian Marine Science Institute. 

Diana Jones, Executive Member, Terra Australis Committee. 

Diana Jones, Member, Steering Committee, WA Marine 

Futures. 

Diana Jones, Member, Steering Committee, WA Introduced 

Marine Pests, WA Fisheries. 

Diana Jones, Member, Linnaeus 2000 Organising Committee, 

University of WA. 

Diana Jones, State Representative, Australian Marine 

Invertebrate Taxonomists Group. 

Diana Jones, Member, Awards Committee, International 

Crustacean Society. 

Diana Jones, Subject Editor ‘Cirripedia’, Zootaxa. 

William Leonard, Member, Companion of the Institute of 

Naval Architects Inc. 

William Leonard, Member, Maritime Heritage Association. 

Ian MacLeod, Conservation Advisor, Fremantle Prison. 

Ian MacLeod, Editorial board member, Reviews in 

Conservation. 

Ian MacLeod, Member, AE2 Submarine Advisory Board, 

Submarine Institute of Australia. 

Ian MacLeod, Member, Board of Advisors, Conservation of the 

USS Monitor (1862), The Mariners Museum, Virginia, USA. 

Ian MacLeod, Member, Burrup Rock Art Monitoring Reference 

Committee. 

Ian MacLeod, Member, Conference Organising Committee, 

Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and 

Engineering. 

Ian MacLeod, Member, Conservation Pre-prints Committee, 

International Council of Museums. 

Ian MacLeod, Member, St George’s Cathedral Restoration Task 

Force Committee. 

Ian MacLeod, Museum Representative, Australian American 

Catalina Memorial Foundation. 

Ian MacLeod, Museum Representative, Board of Swan Bells 

Foundation. 

Ian MacLeod, WA President, Australian Institute for the 

Conservation of Cultural Materials. 



Sally May, Member, Australian Council of Maritime Museums. 

Sally May, Member, History Council of Western Australia. 

Michael McCarthy, Associate Member, Advisory Council for 


Michael McCarthy, Committee Member, Rottnest Island 

Cultural Heritage Committee. 

Terence McClafferty, Acting President, Evaluation and Visitor 

Research SIG, Museums Australia Inc. 

Terence McClafferty, Executive Member, Kalgoorlie Boulder 

Community High School – Education Support Centre School 

Council. 

Terence McClafferty, Executive Member, Kalgoorlie Boulder 

Visitor Centre Inc. 

Penny McGlynn, Member, Editorial Board of SCIOS 

Penny McGlynn, Member, Curriculum Council Course – Study 

Reference Group. 

Ken McNamara, Committee Member, National Cultural 

Heritage Committee. 

Ken McNamara, Member, Board of Earth Science WA. 

Ken McNamara, Member, Editorial Board, Geological 

Magazine (UK). 

Sue Morrison, Museum Representative, Marine Parks and 

Reserves Authority, South Coast Regional Marine Planning 

Working Group. 

Maggie Myers, Committee Member, Australian Institute for the 

Conservation of Cultural Materials Inc. (WA Division). 

Richenda Prall, Associate Member, Advisory Council for 


Vicki Richards, Council Member, Australasian Institute of 

Maritime Archaeology. 

Vicki Richards, Panel Member, UNESCO Convention for the 

Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage. 

Jen Rodrigues, Associate Member, Advisory Council for 


Jen Rodrigues, Secretary, Australasian Institute for Maritime 

Archaeology. 

Alison Sampey, Member, Marine Futures Working Group 

Committee. 

Moya Smith, Ex-officio Member, Aboriginal Cultural Materials 

Committee, Department for Indigenous Affairs. 

Moya Smith, Member, History Assessment Review and 

Moderation (ARM) panel (until December 2006). 

Corioli Souter, State Councillor, Australasian Institute for 

Maritime Archaeology.

Corioli Souter, Associate Member, Advisory Council for 


Myra Stanbury, Associate Member, Advisory Council for 


Myra Stanbury, Joint Editor, Australasian Institute for Maritime 

Archaeology Bulletin. 

Margaret Triffitt, Hon. Librarian, Royal Society of Western 

Australia. 

Claire Stevenson, Member, Animal Ethics Committee, 

Department of Environment and Conservation. 

Claire Stevenson, Member, Australasian Ornithological 

Conference Committee. 

Wendy van Duivenvoorde, Associate Member, Advisory 

Council for Underwater Archaeology. 

Wendy van Duivenvoorde, Member, Maritime Archaeological 

Association of Western Australia Committee. 

Lisa Williams, Member, ICOMOS Port Cities National 

Conference Steering Committee. 

Lisa Williams, Tourism Committee delegate, Fremantle 

Chamber of Commerce. 

Lisa Williams, Member, City of Fremantle – Linking Fremantle 

Steering Committee (Heritage Trails). 

Lisa Williams, Member, Fremantle Port Authority Community 

Liaison Group. 

Lisa Williams, Member, Fremantle Heritage Festival Steering 

Committee. 

PUBLIcATIONS –THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM PUBLIcATIONS UNIT 

Journal of the Royal Society of WA Vol. 89 Part 2 




The WA Naturalist Journal Vol.25 Part 3 

The WA Naturalist Journal Vol.25 Part 4 

Anderson, R. (2006). The Convincing Ground: A case study 

in frontier and modern conflict. Bulletin of the Australasian 

Institute for Maritime Archaeology 30: 137–147. 

Cooper, N.K., How, R.A. and Desmond, A. (2006). Probable 

local extinction of the Bush Rat, Rattus fuscipes, on East 

Wallabi Island in the Houtmann Abrolhos. Western Australian 

Naturalist 25: 61–71. 

Cooper, N.K., Teale, R.J. and Kendrick, P.G. (2006). A 

recently observed increase in distribution of the Desert 

Mouse, Pseudomys desertor, in Western Australia. 

Western Australian Naturalist 25: 169–186. 

Cooper, N.K., Teale, R.J., Kendrick, P.G. and Durrant, C. 

(2006). Identification of the Desert Mouse, Pseudomys 

desertor, and the Western Chestnut Mouse, Pseudomys 

nanus. Western Australian Naturalist 25: 141–151. 

Cooper, S.J.B., Bradbury, J.H., Saint, K.M., Leys, R., 

Austin, A.D. and Humphreys, W.F. (2007). Subterranean 

archipelago in the Australian arid zone: mitochondrial DNA 

phylogeography of amphipods from central Western Australia. 

Molecular Ecology 16: 1533–1544. 

Dippenaar-Schoeman, A., González Reyes, A.P. and Harvey, 

M.S. (2006). A check-list of the Solifugae (sun-spiders) of 

South Africa (Arachnida: Solifugae). African Plant Protection 

12: 70–92. 

Doughty, P. and Anstis, M. (2007). A new species of 

rock-dwelling hylid frog (Anura: Hylidae) from the eastern 

Kimberley region of Western Australia. Records of The 

Western Australian Museum 23: 241–257. 

Doughty, P., Maryan, B., Donnellan, S.C. and Hutchinson, 

M.H. (2007). A new species of taipan (Elapidae: Oxyuranus) 

from central Australia. Zootaxa 1422: 45–58. 

Doughty, P., Maryan, B., Melville, J. and Austin, J. (2007). A 

new species of Ctenophorus (Lacertilia: Agamidae) from Lake 

Disappointment, Western Australia. Herpetologica 

63: 72–86. 

RESEARcH PUBLIcATIONS 

Records of The WA Museum Vol. 23 Part 2 



Records of The WA Museum Suppl. No. 69 



Howzat! Western Australians and Cricket booklet 



Downes, P.J., Wartho, J.-A. and Griffin, B.J. (2006). 

Magmatic evolution and ascent history of the Aries micaceous 

kimberlite, central Kimberley Basin: Evidence from zoned 

phlogopite phenocrysts, and UV laser 40Ar/39Ar analysis of 

phlogopite-biotite Western Australia. Journal of Petrology 47: 

1751–1783. 

Downes, P.J., Hope, M., Bevan, A.W.R. and Henry, D. 

(2006). Chalcocite and associated secondary minerals from 

the Telfer gold mine, Western Australia. Australian Journal of 

Mineralogy 12: 25–42. 

Downes, P.J. and Bevan, A.W.R. (2007). Diamonds in 

Western Australia. Rocks and Minerals 82: 66–73. 

Downes, P.J., Ferguson, D. and Griffin, B.J. (2007). 

Volcanology of the Aries micaceous kimberlite, central 

Kimberley Basin, Western Australia. Journal of Volcanology 

and Geothermal Research 159: 85–107. 

Downes, P.J., Griffin, B.J. and Griffin, W.L. (2007). Mineral 

chemistry and zircon geochronology of xenocrysts and altered 

mantle and crustal xenoliths from the Aries micaceous 

kimberlite: Constraints on the composition and age of the 

central Kimberley Craton, Western Australia. Lithos 93: 

175–198. 

Endo, T., Tsuda, M., Fromont, J. and Kobayashi, J. (2006). 

Hyrtinadine A, a Bis-indole alkaloid from a marine sponge. 

Journal of Natural Products 70: 423 –424. 

Finston, T.L., Johnson, M.S., Humphreys, W.F., Eberhard, S. 

and Halse, S. (2006). Cryptic speciation in two widespread 

subterranean amphipod genera reflects historical drainage 

patterns in an ancient landscape. Molecular Ecology 16: 

355–365. 

Framenau, V.W. (2006). Knoelle, a new monotypic wolf 

spider genus from Australia (Araneae, Lycosidae). Zootaxa 

1281: 55–67. 

Framenau, V.W. (2006). Mainosa, a new genus for the 

Australian ‘Shuttlecock Wolf Spider’ (Araneae, Lycosidae). 

Journal of Arachnology 34: 206–213.

Framenau, V.W. (2006). Revision of the Australian wolf 

spider genus Anomalosa Roewer, 1960 (Araneae, Lycosidae). 

Zootaxa 1304: 1–20. 

Framenau, V.W. (2006). The wolf spider genus Venatrix: 

new species, synonymies and generic transfers (Araneae, 

Lycosidae). Records of The Western Australian Museum 23: 

145–166. 

Framenau, V.W. (2007). Revision of the new Australian 

genus Artoriopsis in a new subfamily of wolf spiders, 

Artoriinae (Araneae: Lycosidae). Zootaxa 1391: 1–34. 

Framenau, V.W., Gotch, T.B. and Austin, A.D. (2006). The 

wolf spiders of artesian springs in arid South Australia, with 

a revalidation of Tetralycosa (Araneae, Lycosidae). Journal of 

Arachnology 34: 1–36. 

Framenau, V.W. and Manderbach, R. (eds). (2006). Website 

of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists. http://www. 

sasb.org.au (with contributions from numerous authors). 

Fromont, J., Vanderklift, M.A. and Kendrick, G.A. (2006). 

Marine sponges of the Dampier Archipelago, Western 

Australia: patterns of species distributions, abundance and 

diversity. Biodiversity and Conservation 15: 3731–3750. 

Gillespie, R., Brook, B.W. and Baynes, A. (2006). Short 

overlap of humans and megafauna in Pleistocene Australia. 

Alcheringa Special Issue 1: 163–185. 

Green, J. (2006). Survey of the Port Coogee Development 

Area. Department of Maritime Archaeology, The Western 

Australian Museum, Report No. 213. 

Green, J. (2006). The Carronade Island guns and Southeast 

Asian gun founding. Department of Maritime Archaeology, 

The Western Australian Museum, Report No. 215. 

Green, J.N. (2006). ArcView How to do it Manual No. 1: 

Georeferencing for Beginners. Department of Maritime 

Archaeology, The Western Australian Museum, Report No. 219. 

Green, J. (2006). Total Station How to do it Manual No.1: 

Simple Surveying Set–up. Department of Maritime Archaeology, 

The Western Australian Museum, Report No. 220. 

Green, J. (ed.) (2007). Report on the 2006 Western 

Australian Museum, Department of Maritime Archaeology, 

Cape Inscription National Heritage Listing Archaeological 

Survey. Department of Maritime Archaeology The Western 

Australian Museum, Report No. 223 Special Publication No. 

10, Australian National Centre of Excellence for Maritime 

Archaeology: ii–xvii, 1–259. 

Grguric, B. A., Pring, A., Bevan, A.W.R. and Downes, P.J. 

(2006). The minerals of Comet Vale, Western Australia. 

Australian Journal of Mineralogy 12: 9–23. 

Harvey, M.S. (2006). New species and records of the 

pseudoscorpion family Menthidae (Pseudoscorpiones). 

Records of The Western Australian Museum 23: 167–174. 

Harvey, M.S. and Mahnert, V. (2006). The systematic 

position of the Amazonian species of Albiorix 

(Pseudoscorpiones, Ideoroncidae). Journal of Arachnology 

34: 227–230. 

Harvey, M.S. and Mould, L.G. (2006). A new troglomorphic 

species of Austrochthonius (Pseudoscorpiones: Chthoniidae) 

from Australia, with remarks on Chthonius caecus. Records 

of The Western Australian Museum 23: 205–211. 

Harvey, M.S., Štáhlavský, F. and Theron, P.D. (2006). 

The distribution of Eukoenenia mirabilis (Palpigradi: 

Eukoeneniidae): a widespread tramp. Records of The 

Western Australian Museum 23: 199–203. 

Harvey, M.S. and Edward, K.L. (2007). A review of the 

pseudoscorpion genus Ideoblothrus (Pseudoscorpiones, 

Syarinidae) from western and northern Australia. Journal of 

Natural History 41: 445–472. 

Harvey, M.S., Barba D., R., Muchmore, W.B. and Perez, 

G., A. (2007). Pseudalbiorix, a new genus of Ideoroncidae 

(Pseudoscorpiones, Neobisioidea) from central America. 

Journal of Arachnology 34: 610–626. 

Henry, D.A., Bevan, A.W.R., Bevan J.C., Birch, W.D., Carr, 

P.F., Downes, P.J., England, B.M., Pring, A. and Williamson, 

P.L. (2007). Classic Australian Minerals. Rocks and Minerals 

82: 18–28. 

Hosseini, R., Keller, M.A., Schmidt, O. and Framenau, V.W. 

(2007). Molecular identification of wolf spiders (Lycosidae) 

by Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction. Biological Control 

40: 128–135. 

Houston, T.F. (2007). Observations of the biology and 

immature stages of the sandgroper Cylindraustralia kochii 

(Saussure), with notes on some congeners (Orthoptera: 

Cylindrachetidae). Records of The Western Australian 

Museum 23: 219–234. 

How, R.A. and Cowan, M.A. (2006). Collections in 

space and time: A biogeographical examination of native 

frogs, mammals and reptiles in Western Australia. Pacific 

Conservation Biology 12: 111–133. 

How, R.A., Schmitt, L.H., Teale, R. J. and Cowan, M.A. 

(2006). Appraising vertebrate diversity on the Bonaparte 

Islands, Kimberley, Western Australia. Western Australian 

Naturalist 25: 92–110. 

Humphreys, W. (2006). ‘Groundwater fauna’ paper prepared 

for the 2006 Australian State of the Environment Committee, 

Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra, 

http://www.deh.gov.au/soe/2006/emerging/fauna/index.html 

Humphreys, W.F. (2007). Comment on Assessing the need 

for groundwater quality guidelines for pesticides using the 

species sensitivity distribution approach, by Hose. Human 

and Ecological Risk Assessment 13: 236–240. 

Hutchins, J.B. (2006). Description of two new species of 

shore-eels (Gobiesocidae: Cheilobranchinae: Alabes) from 

south-eastern Australia and Norfolk Island. Memoirs of the 

Museum of Victoria 63: 25–28. 

Johnstone, R.E. (2006). The birds of Gag Island, Western 

Papuan Islands, Indonesia. Records of The Western 

Australian Museum 23: 115–132. 

Johnstone, R.E. and Darnell J.C. (2007). First Australian 

record of the Black-capped Kingfisher (Halcyon pileata). 

Western Australian Naturalist 25:187–190. 

Jones, D. S. (2006). The Cirripedia of New Caledonia. In: 

Payri, C. and Richer de Forges, B. (eds), Compendium of 

Marine Species of New Caledonia. Forum Biodec, Nouméa: 

247–252. 

Karanovic, I. (2006). On the genus Gomphodella (Crustacea: 

Ostracoda: Limnocytheridae) with description of three new 

species from Australia and redescription of the type species. 

Species Diversity 11: 99–135. 

Karanovic, I. (2006). Recent Candoninae (Crustacea, 

Ostracoda) of North America. Records of The Western 

Australian Museum, Supplement 71: 1–75. 

Karanovic, T. (2006). Subterranean copepods (Crustacea, 

Copepoda) from the Pilbara region in Western Australia. 

Records of The Western Australian Museum, Supplement 

70: 1–239. 

Kariya, Y., Kubota, T., Fromont, J. and Kobayashi, J. (2006). 

Pyrinadines B-G, new bid-pyridine alkaloids with an azoxy 

moiety from sponge Cribrochalina sp. Bioorganic and 

Medicinal Chemistry 14: 8415–8419. 

Maryan, B., Aplin, K.P. and Adams, M. (2007). Two new 

species of the Delma tincta group (Squamata: Pygopodidae) 

from Northwestern Australia. Records of The Western 

Australian Museum 23: 273–305. 


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May, S. (2006). Australia’s Antarctic (Southern Ocean) 

Fisheries: A Case Study of the Development of Trans-national 

Capitalism. International Journal of Maritime History 

17: 323–350. 

May, S. (2007). Pearl Fishing and Farming: Social History. 

The Oxford Encyclopedia of Maritime History. 

McCarthy, M. (2006). Maritime Archaeology in Australasia: 

Reviews and Overviews. In: Staniforth, M. and Nash, M. 

(eds.), Maritime Archaeology. Australian Approaches. 

Chapter 1. Springer, New York. Pp 1–15. 

McCarthy, M. (2006). The Dutch on Australian Shores: 

the Zuytdorp tragedy—unfinished business. In: Shaw, L. 

and Wilkins, W. (eds.), Dutch Connections—400 years of 

Australian-Dutch maritime links. 1606 – 2006: 94–109. 

McCarthy, M. (2007). Mystery Bay. In: Green, J., (ed.), Report 

on the 2006 Western Australian Museum, Department of 

Maritime Archaeology, Cape Inscription National Heritage 

Listing Archaeological Survey. Department of Maritime 

Archaeology The Western Australian Museum, Report No. 

223 Special Publication No. 10, Australian National Centre of 

Excellence for Maritime Archaeology: 207–209. 

McCarthy, M. (2007). Pearling at Shark Bay: the early 

beginnings. In: Green, J., (ed.), Report on the 2006 Western 






Archaeology: 157–161. 

McCarthy, M. (2007). Post-settlement activity at the French 

‘Annexation Site’. In: Green, J. (ed.), Report on the 2006 

Western Australian Museum, Department of Maritime 

Archaeology, Cape Inscription National Heritage Listing 

Archaeological Survey. Department of Maritime Archaeology 

The Western Australian Museum, Report No. 223 Special 

Publication No. 10, Australian National Centre of Excellence 

for Maritime Archaeology: 25–40. 

McCarthy, M. (2007). Sammy Well. In: Green, J., (ed.), 

Report on the 2006 Western Australian Museum, Department 

of Maritime Archaeology, Cape Inscription National Heritage 

Listing Archaeological Survey. Department of Maritime 

Archaeology The Western Australian Museum, Report No. 

223 Special Publication No. 10, Australian National Centre of 

Excellence for Maritime Archaeology: 195–202. 

McCarthy, M. (2007). The Herald Bay Outcamp. In: Green, 

J., (ed.), Report on the 2006 Western Australian Museum, 

Department of Maritime Archaeology, Cape Inscription 

National Heritage Listing Archaeological Survey. Department of 

Maritime Archaeology The Western Australian Museum, Report 

No. 223 Special Publication No. 10, Australian National 

Centre of Excellence for Maritime Archaeology: 210–219. 

McCarthy, M. (2007). The inland ‘A’ on the de Rosily chart 

1772 and Cape Levillain. In: Green, J. (ed.), Report on the 

2006 Western Australian Museum, Department of Maritime 

Archaeology, Cape Inscription National Heritage Listing 

Archaeological Survey. Department of Maritime Archaeology 

The Western Australian Museum, Report No. 223 Special 

Publication No. 10, Australian National Centre of Excellence 

for Maritime Archaeology: 42–3. 

McCarthy, M. (2007). The Turtle Bay ‘Grave’. In: Green, J., 

(ed.), Report on the 2006 Western Australian Museum, 


National Heritage Listing Archaeological Survey. Department 

of Maritime Archaeology The Western Australian Museum, 

Report No. 223 Special Publication No. 10, Australian 

National Centre of Excellence for Maritime Archaeology: 

203–206. 

McKenzie, N.L., Burbidge, A.A., Baynes, A., Brereton, 

R.N., Dickman, C.R., Gordon, G., Gibson, L.A., Menkhorst, 

P.W., Robinson, A.C., Williams, M.R. and Woinarski, J.C.Z. 

(2007). Analysis of factors implicated in the recent decline of 

Australia’s mammal fauna. Journal of Biogeography 

34: 597–611. 

McNamara, K.J. and Feist, R. (2006). New styginids 

from the Late Devonian of Western Australia – the last 

corynexochid trilobites. Journal of Paleontology 80: 

981–992. 

Moulds, T.A., Murphy, N., Adams, M., Reardon, T., Harvey, 

M.S., Jennings, J. and Austin, A.D. (2007). Phylogeography 

of cave pseudoscorpions in southern Australia. Journal of 

Biogeography 34: 951–962. 

Nickel, E.H., Williams, P.A., Downes, P.J., Buchert, D.E. and 

Vaughan, D. (2007). Secondary minerals in a tennantite 

boxwork from the Bali Lo prospect, Ashburton Downs, 

Western Australia. Australian Journal of Mineralogy 

13: 31–39. 



Pepper, M., Doughty,P. and Keogh, J. S. (2006). 

Molecular phylogeny and phylogeography of the Australian 

Diplodactylus stenodactylus (Gekkota; Reptilia) species-group 

based on mitochondrial and nuclear genes reveals an ancient 

split between Pilbara and non-Pilbara D. stenodactylus. 

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 41: 539–555. 

Pinder, A.M., Eberhard, S.M. and Humphreys, W.F. (2006). 

New phallodrilines (Annelida: Clitellata: Tubificidae) from 

Western Australian groundwater. Zootaxa 1304: 31–48. 

Prall, R. (2007). The Artefact Register. In: Green, J., 

(ed.), Report on the 2006 Western Australian Museum, 


National Heritage Listing Archaeological Survey. Department 

of Maritime Archaeology The Western Australian Museum, 

Report No. 223 Special Publication No. 10, Australian 

National Centre of Excellence for Maritime Archaeology: 

232–245. 

Prideaux, G.J., Long, J.A., Ayliffe, L.K., Hellstrom, J.C., 

Pillans, B., Boles, W.E., Hutchinson, M.N., Roberts, R.G., 

Cupper, M.L., Arnold, L.J., Devine, P.D. and Warburton, 

N.M. (2007). An arid-adapted middle Pleistocene vertebrate 

fauna from south-central Australia. Nature 445: 422–425. 

Rodrigues, J. and Anderson, R. (2006). Pakington 

Whaling Station. (With contributions from M. McCarthy). 

Department of Maritime Archaeology, The Western Australian 

Museum,Report No. 214, Australian National Centre of 

Excellence for Maritime Archaeology. 

Schmidt, S.I., Hahn, H.J., Hatton, T.J. and Humphreys, W.F. 

(2007). Do faunal assemblages reflect the exchange intensity 

in groundwater zones? Hydrobiologia 583: 1–19. 

Schmidt, S.I., Hellweg, J., Hahn, H.J., Hatton, T.J. and 

Humphreys, W.F. (2007). Does groundwater influence 

the sediment fauna beneath a small, sandy stream? 

Limnolologica 37: 208–225. 

Souter, C. (2006). Cultural tourism and diver education. In: 

Staniforth, M. and Nash, M. (eds), Maritime Archaeology: 

Australian Approaches. The Springer Series in Underwater 

Archaeology, Springer, New York. Pp 163–176. 

Souter, C. Paterson, A. and Hooks, S. (2006). Archaeological 

sites on Barrow Island and the Dampier Archipelago. Bulletin 

of the Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology 

30: 85–92. 

Stanbury, M. (2006). Book review. Before the Mast: Life and 

Death Aboard the Mary Rose (The Archaeology of the Mary 

Rose volume 4). Gardiner, J. (ed.), with Michael J. Allen and 

54 contributors. 732 pp. 544 black and white illustrations 

+ 71 colour plates, 98 tables. Oxbow Books, Oxford. 

International Journal of Nautical Archaeology 35: 341–343.

Stanbury, M. (2006). Unfurling the secret of the Batavia 

lace and lace bobbins. In: Dutch Connections – 400 Years 

of Australian-Dutch Maritime Links 1606–2006, Australian 

National Maritime Museum, Sydney. Pp 86–93. 

Stanbury, M. (2007), The de Saint Aloüarn voyage of 

1772. In: Green, J., (ed.), Report on the 2006 Western 







Stanbury, M. (2007). The Hartog, de Vlamingh and Hamelin 

plates re-visited: Early European discovery and exploration of 

Shark Bay. In: Green, J., (ed.), Report on the 2006 Western 







Stanbury, M. (2007). Persévérant sites: Background 

history. In: Green, J., (ed.), Report on the 2006 Western 







Stanbury, M. (2007). The Shark Bay guano industry: a 

backgound. In: Green, J., (ed.), Report on the 2006 Western 







Stanbury, M. and Kasi, K. (2006). Early non-pontilled 

bottles from the wreck of the Cumberland (1830), Western 

Australia. Bulletin of the Australasian Institute for Maritime 

Archaeology 30: 25–49. 

Van Duivenvoorde, W. (2006). Dutch Ministry of Finance 

voilates agreement on submerged cultural heritage. Institute 

of Nautical Archaeology 33: 15–16. 

Van Duivenvoorde, W. (2006). Just Released: Ships’ 

Fastenings: from Sewn Boat to Steamship by Michael 

McCarthy. INA Quarterly 33: 24–25. 

Van Duivenvoorde, W. (2006). News and Notes: Center for 

Maritime Archaeology and Conservation Lecture Series. INA 

Quarterly 33: 27. 

Van Duivenvoorde, W. (2007). ‘Nautische Archäologie an 

der Texas A & M University aus der Sicht einer Studentin.’ 

Skyllus, Jahrgang 2003/4, Heft 1–2: 16–20. 

Van Duivenvoorde, W. and Pulak, C. (2007). ‘Das Institute 

for Nautical Archaeology in der Türkei.’ Skyllus, Jahrgang 

2003/4, Heft 1–2: 129–40. 

Yoo, J.-S. and Framenau, V.W. (2006). Systematics and 

biogeography of the wolf spider genus Venonia (Araneae, 

Lycosidae). Invertebrate Systematics 20: 675–712. 

Yoo, J.-S., Framenau, V.W. and Kim, J.-P. (2007). Arctosa 

stigmosa and A. subamylacea are two different species 

(Araneae, Lycosidae). Journal of Arachnology 35: 171–180. 

non-refereed reports, conference papers and 

popular publications 

Baynes, A. (2006). Preliminary assessment of the original 

mammal fauna of Lorna Glen station. Unpublished report 

to the Department of Environment and Conservation. Pp 7. 

August 2006. 

Baynes, A. (2006). The original mammal fauna of Dirk 

Hartog Island: results from field work in 2006. Unpublished 

report to the Department of Environment and Conservation. 

Pp 6. August 2006. 

Baynes, A. (2007). Final report on an investigation of the 

original non-volant mammal fauna of Nanga Station, Shark 

Bay. Unpublished report to the Department of Environment 

and Conservation. Pp 9. May 2007. 

Bryce, C.W. and Marsh, L.M. (2006). A survey of selected 

Echinodermata (Asteroidea, Echinoidea, Holothuroidea) of 

Mermaid (Rowley Shoals), Scott and Seringapatam Reefs, 

North-western Australia: Preliminary Results. In: A Marine 

Biological Survey of Mermaid Reef (Rowley Shoals), Scott 

and Seringapatam Reefs. A preliminary report. The Western 

Australian Museum, Perth. Pp 92–98. 

Bryce, C.W. and Whisson, C.S. (2006). Macro-Mollusca of 

Mermaid (Rowley Shoals), Scott and Seringapatam Reefs, 

North-western Australia: preliminary results. In: A Marine 

Biological Survey of Mermaid Reef (Rowley Shoals), Scott 

and Seringapatam Reefs. A preliminary report. The Western 

Australian Museum, Perth. Pp 80–91. 

Cooper, N. (2007). Bandy Creek Animal Bones. Unpublished 

WA Musuem Report for Aboriginal Traditional Owners, 

Esperance area. 

Department of Wildlife Conservation. (2007a). Biodiversity 

Baseline Survey: Field Manual. Consultancy Services Report 

prepared by Green, M.J.B. (ed.), De Alwis, S.M.D.A.U., 

Dayawansa, P.N., How, R., Padmalal, U.K.G.K., De Silva, 

S., Singhakumara, B.M.P., Weerakoon, D.,Wijesinghe, 

M.R. and Yapa, W.B. ARD Inc in association with Infotech 

IDEAS and GREENTECH Consultants. Sri Lanka Protected 

Areas Management and Wildlife Conservation Project 

(PAMandWCP/CONSULT/02/BDBS), Department of 

Wildlife Conservation, Ministry of Environment and Natural 

Resources, Colombo. Pp 43. 



Department of Wildlife Conservation. (2007b). Biodiversity 

Baseline Survey: Wasgomuwa National Park. Consultancy 

Services Report prepared by Green, M.J.B. (ed.), De 

Alwis, S.M.D.A.U., Dayawansa, P.N., How, R., Padmalal, 

U.K.G.K., De Silva, S., Singhakumara, B.M.P., Weerakoon, 

D.,Wijesinghe, M.R. and Yapa, W.B. ARD Inc in association 

with Infotech IDEAS and GREENTECH Consultants. Sri Lanka 

Protected Areas Management and Wildlife Conservation 

Project (PAMandWCP/CONSULT/02/BDBS), Department of 



Department of Wildlife Conservation. (2007c). Biodiversity 

Baseline Survey: Ritigala Strict Natural Reserve. Consultancy 









Resources, Colombo. Pp 41.

Department of Wildlife Conservation. (2007d). Biodiversity 

Baseline Survey: Horton Plains National Park. Consultancy 










Department of Wildlife Conservation. (2007e). Biodiversity 

Baseline Survey: Peak Wilderness Sanctuary. Consultancy 










Downes, P.J., 2006. Magmatic evolution, xenolith 

mineralogy, and emplacement history of the Aries micaceous 

kimberlite, central Kimberley Basin, Western Australia. 

Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, University of Western Australia, 

Perth. Pp 195. 

Fromont, J. (2006). Porifera. In: A Marine Biological Survey 

of Mermaid Reef (Rowley Shoals), Scott and Seringapatam 

Reefs. A preliminary report. The Western Australian Museum. 

Perth. Pp 41-49. 

Fromont, J., Hass, C., Marsh, L., Moore, G., Salotti, M., 

Titelius, M. and Whisson, C. (2006). Strategic Research 

Fund for the Marine Environment Collaborative Research 

Project: Biodiversity of Marine Fauna on the Central West 

Coast. SRFME Final Milestone Report, December 2006. Pp 

86. 

Hass, C. (2006). Chapter 3, Isopoda, In: Strategic Research 



Coast, SRFME Final Milestone Report, December 2006. Pp 

26–28. 

How, R.A., Maryan, B. and Stevenson, C.A. (2007). 

Seasonal activity in the evolving reptile populations on the 

Abrolhos Islands. Report No: NTVBE/2007/WAMFG to The 

Western Australian Museum Foundation. Pp 7. 

Jones, D. S. (2006). Identification of Barnacles from Koolan 

Island, WA. Report to MScience Pty Ltd. Unpublished report, 

The WA Museum, Perth. Pp 5. 

Jones, D. S. (2007). Identification of Barnacles from Flying 

Foam Passage, Dampier Archipelago, and Cape Lambert 

area, WA. Report to URS Australia Pty Ltd. Unpublished 

report, The WA Museum, Perth. Pp 6. 

Jones, D. S. (2007). Identification of Barnacles from 

the Dredger Hippopotes and Barges Sydney Yea and 

Chemsound, Dampier Harbour, WA. Report to MScience Pty 

Ltd. Unpublished report, The WA Museum, Perth. Pp 6. 

Jones, D. S. (2007). Identification of Barnacles from Service 

Wharf, Parker Point, Dampier, WA (2007). Report to SKM 

Pty Ltd. Unpublished report, The WA Museum, Perth. Pp 5. 

Jones, D. S. (2007). Identification of Barnacles from 

Dredger, Service Wharf, Parker Point, Dampier, WA, 

(2006). Report to SKM Pty Ltd. Unpublished report, The WA 

Museum, Perth. Pp 5. 

Jones, D. S. (2007). Identification of Barnacles from the 

Northern Territory. Report to Department of Primary Industry, 

Fisheries and Mines, Northern Territory. Unpublished report, 

The WA Museum, Perth. Pp 6. 

McCarthy, M. (2006). Book Review. John Devoy’s Catalpa 

Expedition. Phillip Fennell and Marie King (eds.). (NYU 

Press). The West Australian 5 August 2006. 

Moore, G. (2006). Chapter 5: Fishes. In: Strategic Research 



Coast, SRFME Final Milestone Report, December 2006. Pp 

39–44. 



Morrison, S. and Moore, G. (2006). A semi-quantitative fish 

survey of Mermaid (Rowley Shoals), Scott and Seringapatam 

Reefs, north western Australia: Preliminary Results. 

In: A Marine Biological Survey of Mermaid Reef (Rowley 

Shoals), Scott and Seringapatam Reefs. A preliminary report. 

The Western Australian Museum, Perth. Pp 99–128. 

Reynolds, R. and Smith, M. (2007). Bandy Creek Heritage 

Assessment. Unpublished report, The WA Museum, for 

Department of Indigenous Affairs. 

Schmitt, L.H. and How, R. A. (2006). Genetic differentiation 

in Kimberley Island vertebrate populations. Report to 

National Heritage Trust with funding from the Rangelands 

NRM Co-ordinating Group Inc. WAMTVBE/2006/RNRM. 

Pp 14. 

Slack-Smith, S. (2006). The Non-marine Molluscan Fauna 

of the Fortescue Metals Group – Pilbara Iron Ore and 

Infrastructure Project: East-West Railway and Mine Sites 

(Stage B) – Cloud Break Area, Western Australia. Report to 

ATA Environmental. Unpublished report, The WA Museum, 

Perth. Pp 15. 

Slack-Smith, S. (2006). The Non-marine Molluscan Fauna at 

Honeymoon Well, Wiluna, Western Australia. Report to ATA 

Environmental. Unpublished report, The WA Museum, Perth. 

Pp 12. 

Slack-Smith, S. (2006). Marine Survey of Koolan Island, 

Western Australia – Marine Molluscs of Kooland Island, WA 

– concerning Introduced Pests. Report to Mscience Pty Ltd. 

Unpublished report, The WA Museum, Perth. Pp 8. 

Slack-Smith, S.M. (2006). Non-marine Molluscan 

specimens collected from the Spinifex Ridge area, north east 

of Marble Bar, Western Australia. Report to Outback Ecology. 

Unpublished report. The WA Museum, Perth. Pp 5. 

Slack-Smith, S. and Whisson, C. (2006). The non-marine 

Mollusca of the Maret and surrounding Islands of the 

Bonaparte Archipelago, WA. Report to RPS Bowman Bishaw 

Gorham. Unpublished report, The WA Museum, Perth. Pp 

16. 

Titelius, M.A. (2006). Chapter 2: Crustaceans. In: Strategic 

Research Fund for the Marine Environment Collaborative 

Research Project: Biodiversity of Marine Fauna on the 

Central West Coast, SRFME Final Milestone Report 

– December 2006. Pp 13–25. 

Titelius, M.A. and Hass, C.G. (2006). Crustacea of Mermaid 

Reef (Rowley Shoals), Scott and Seringapatam Reefs. 

In: A Marine Biological Survey of Mermaid Reef (Rowley 

Shoals), Scott and Seringapatam Reefs: A preliminary report. 

The Western Australian Museum, Perth. Pp 69–79.

Allford, A., Cooper, S.J.B., Austin, A.D. and Humphreys, 

W.F. (2007). The ecology of groundwater fauna from 

calcrete aquifers of the Yilgarn region of Western Australia. 

Presentation, Southern Connections Conference, Adelaide, 

January 2007. 

Anstey, S. (2006). Storing Museum Collections. Talk and tour 

of The WA Museum Collections and Research Facility, Melville 

Historical Society, 12 July 2006. 

Anstey, S. (2006). Media Preview/ floor talk ‘Howzat!’ 

exhibition, The WA Museum, 7 December 2006. 

Anstey, S. (2006). Curator’s floor talk. Exhibition Opening, 

Premier of Western Australia and Minister for Culture and the 

Arts, ‘Howzat!’ exhibition, The WA Museum, 

8 December 2006. 

Anstey, S. (2006). Curator’s floor talk for Museum 

Foundation. ‘Howzat!’ exhibition, The WA Museum, 


Anstey, S. (2006). Curator’s floor talk. Museum Foundation 

Gala function, ‘Howzat!’ exhibition, The WA Museum, 



Foundation. ‘Howzat!’ exhibition, The WA Museum, 



Foundation. ‘Howzat!’ exhibition, The WA Museum, 14 

December 2006. 

Anstey, S. (2006). Curator’s floor talk, Governor of Western 

Australia. ‘Howzat!’ exhibition, The WA Museum, 


Anstey, S. (2007). Building an Exhibition. Museum at Work 

Lecture Series, The WA Museum, 16 February 2007. 

Anstey, S. (2007). Behind the Scenes of the Howzat 

exhibition. Lecture and Floor talk to the Friends of the 

Museum, 25 February 2007. 

Anstey, S. (2007). A tour with the Curator. Floor talk of the 

‘Howzat!’ 

exhibition for winners of ABC Local Radio competition, 

6 March 2007. 

Anstey, S. (2007). Representing History in Museums. 

Lecture and floor talk of ‘Howzat!’ exhibition, History Honours 

class, University of Western Australia, 7 March 2007. 

Anstey, S. (2007). A Tour with the Curator. Floor talk of the 

‘Howzat!’ exhibition for Bank West, the exhibition principle 

sponsor, 14 March 2007. 

Anstey, S. (2007). Preventative Conservation. Joint 

presentation with Ian Godfrey - weekend module, Certificate 

in Museum Studies, Edith Cowan University in conjunction 

with The WA Museum, 24-25 March 2007. 

Anstey, S. (2007). Museums, Heritage, Culture and Society: 

What is and isn’t a museum. Lecture - weekend module, 

Certificate in Museum Studies, Edith Cowan University in 

conjunction with The WA Museum, 10 March 2007. 

Anstey, S. (2007). Collecting and Documentation. Lecture, 

Certificate in Museum Studies, Edith Cowan University in 

conjunction with The WA Museum, 28-29 April 2007. 

Anstey, S and Broeze-Hoernemann, L. (2007). Conservation 

considerations for the ‘Howzat!’ exhibition. Joint presentation 

with State Library conservation staff, 12 March 2007. 

Bevan, A. (2006). The Desert Fireball Network: An allsky 

camera network in the Western Australian Nullarbor. 

Presentation, 6th Space Science Conference, Canberra, 

20 July 2006. 

LEcTURES AND PRESENTATIONS 

Bevan, A. (2006). Meteorites – A journey through space 

and time. Public talk – Science Week, University of Western 

Australia, 15 August 2006. 

Bevan, A. (2006). Tektites. Public talk - Science Week, 

Scitech, 15 August 2006. 

Bevan, A. (2006). Cosmic gems. Public talk, Museum@Work 

regional series, 8 September 2006. 

Bevan, A. (2006). An All-Sky Camera Network for WA. 

Presentation, Astronomical Group of WA, 3 October 2006. 

Bevan, A. (2007). The science behind climate change. Public 

talk, Friends of the E. de C. Clarke Museum, 


Bevan, A. (2007). Astronomical and other controls on 

climate change. Public talk, Museum@Work regional series, 

Carnarvon and Geraldton, 28 – 29 March 2007. 

Bradshaw, W. (2006). Western Australian Ceramics in The 

WA Museum Collection. Collection Manager’s floor talk to the 

Friends of the Museum, 19 September 2006. 

Broeze-Hoernemann, U., Carpenter, J. and Garcia, S. 

R. (2007). Bring Out Your Treasures. Public Open Day, 

Kalgoorlie, March 2007. 

Broeze-Hoernemann, U., Corvaia, C., Godfrey, I. and Kasi, 

K. (2007). Preventive Conservation. Workshop and Lecture 

as part of “Caring for Your Collection”, Public Open Day 

Geraldton, May 2007. 

Carpenter, J. (2006). The Xantho engine – preserving the 

components. Presentation, Second Australian Seminar on the 

Management of Iron Vessels and Steam Shipwrecks, Perth, 

26–27 June 2006. 

Carpenter, J. (2006). The Xantho engine – Conserving the 

iron components. Presentation, Lions International, Norfolk 

Island, July-August 2006. 

Carpenter, J. (2006). Tempting Tobago – Conservation in the 

Caribbean. Presentation, Australasian Institute of Maritime 

Archaeology/Australian Society for Historical Archaeology 

Combined Annual Conference, Darwin, 14-19 September 2006. 

Carpenter, J. (2006). A French pistol from the wreck of the 

HMS Pandora. Presentation, Earthwatch Volunteer team, 

Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia, November 2006. 

Carpenter, J. (2006). The Galle Harbour Project, Sri Lanka. 

Presentation, Earthwatch volunteer team, Chuuk, Federated 

States of Micronesia, November 2006. 

Carpenter, J. (2007). Establishing a laboratory for Maritime 

Archaeological Conservation. Introductory Course in Maritime 

Archaeological Training and Techniques, Taiwan, 

February 2007. 

Carpenter, J. (2007). Shipwreck artefacts – Conservation 

procedures in-situ to display and establishing a laboratory for 

maritime archaeological conservation. Introductory Course in 

Maritime Archaeological Training and Techniques, Taiwan, 

February 2007. 

Carpenter, J. (2007). Conservation of Shipwreck artefacts. 

Public lecture, Shipwreck Galleries, The WA Museum, June 

2007. 

Casey, D. (2006). Indigenous Collections: Indigenous 

Museums? Being Collected. Lecture Series, MacLeay 

Museum, University of Sydney, 25 August 2006. 

Casey, D. (2006). Create, Lead, Innovate, Connect and 

Knowledge. Presentation, Australian Library and Information 

Association (ALIA) 2006 Biennial Conference, 

20 September 2006. 


< back to contents>

Casey, D. (2007). In the shadow of a Volcano: the barkcloth 

art of Omie. Presentation, Holmes a Court Gallery, 

24 May 2007. 

Casey, D. (2007). Leading and managing change. 

Presentation, Certificate of Museum Studies Course, 

Edith Cowan University in conjunction with The WA Museum, 

24 June 2007. 

Chadwick, R. (2006).Tour of Katta Djinoong. Curtin 

University, 22 December 2006. 

Chadwick, R. (2007). Fibre works in the Anthropology 

collections. Tour of collections for Friends of the Museum, 


Chadwick, R. (2007). Development of Katta Djinoong. 

Presentation, Museum Studies Certificate Course, 

Edith Cowan University in conjunction with The WA Museum, 


Cooper S., Saint, K., Leys, R., Bradbury, J., Taiti, S., Austin, 

A. and Humphreys, W.F. (2007) Comparative phylogeography 

of amphipod and isopod stygofauna from calcrete aquifers of 

central Western Australia: factors that have shaped species 

diversity. Presentation, 5th International Southern Connection 

Conference, Adelaide, South Australia, 21–25 January. 

Craig, C.-F. (2006). Workshop and Excursion. 

State Conference for Museums Australia, Albany, 

22 and 23 July 2006. 

Craig, C.-F. (2006). Museum Planning. Lecture and 

Workshop, Edith Cowan University in conjunction with The 

WA Museum, 7–8 September 2006. 

Craig, C.-F. (2007). Museums Heritage Culture and Society. 

Lecture and Workshop, Edith Cowan University in conjunction 

with The WA Museum, 10–11 March 2007. 

Craig, C.-F. (2007). Cunderdin Museum. Presentations to 

Shire Councillors CEO and committee members, Shire of 

Cunderdin, 14 June 2007. 

Craig, C.-F. (2007). Museum Planning and Operations. 

Lecture and Workshop, Certificate of Museum Studies 

Course, Edith Cowan University in conjunction with The WA 

Museum, 23–24 June 2007. 

Deacon, G. (2007). Megafauna from the Nullarbor caves. 

Public talk, Museum@Work regional series, Albany Museum, 

March 2007. 

Doughty, P. (2006). Cane toads vs. Kimberley frogs. 

Public talk, Herdsman Lake, 18 August 2006. 

Doughty, P. (2006). Cane toads vs. Kimberley frogs. 

Public talk, Perth Zoo, 23 November 2006. 

Doughty, P. (2007). The role of The WA Museum in 

biodiversity conservation. Presentation, Department of 

Environment and Conservation, Albany, 15 June 2007. 

Doughty, P. and How, R. (2006). Biodiversity in the suburbs. 

Presentation and workshop, The WA Museum, 7 September 


Downes, P. (2006). Mineral chemistry and U-Pb SHRIMP 

geochronology of xenoliths and xenocrysts from the Aries 

micaceous kimberlite: Constraints on the composition and 

age of the central Kimberley Craton, Western Australia. 

Presentation, Australian Earth Sciences Convention, 

Melbourne, 6 July 2006. 

Downes, P. (2007). Western Gems: the story of diamonds 

in Western Australia. Public talk. Museum@Work regional 

series, 28 July 2006. 

Dyason, F. and Smith, M. (2007) WAM Anthropology 

collections. Tour for Notre Dame Archaeology students, 


Dyason, F. and Smith, M. (2007). WAM Anthropology 

collections. Tour for the University of Western Australia 

Archaeology students, 8 June 2007. 

Framenau, V. (2006). Spiders. Public talk, Museum@Work 

series, Perth. 

Fromont, J. (2006). Marine Biodiversity in south Western 

Australia. Presentation, Wilderness Society, November 2006. 

Fromont, J. (2006). Marine Science in Western Australia. 

Presentation, Galathea Symposium, Murdoch University, 

November 2006. 

Fromont, J. (2007). The Significance of Historical Collections: 

Ningaloo. Presentation, WAMSI Symposium, 


Fromont, J. (2007). Marine Wonders of Western Australian. 

Public talk. Museum@Work regional series, Geraldton 

Museum, 18 April 2007. 

Garcia S.R. (2006). The Xantho engine – The disassembly 

and reconstruction of the Xantho engine Presentation, Second 

Australian Seminar on the Management of Iron Vessels and 

Steam Shipwrecks, Perth, 26-27 June 2006. 

Garcia S.R. (2006). The Xantho engine – The disassembly 

and reconstruction of the Xantho engine. Presentation, 

Lions International, Norfolk Island July/August 2006 

Godfrey, I. (2006). Conservation of organic materials from 

the Xantho. Presentation, Second Australian Seminar on the 

Management of Iron Vessels and Steam Shipwrecks, Perth, 

26-27 June 2006. 

Godfrey, I. (2007). Conservation of Mawson’s Huts. Public 

talk. Museum@Work regional series, Geraldton Museum, 

May 2007. 

Gomez, O. (2007). Western Australia’s marine sponges. 

Presentation, WAMSI Symposium, 29 March 2007. 

Graham-Taylor, S. (2007). Being an Historian. Presentation, 

Australian Federation of University Women General Meeting, 

21 February 2007. 

Graham-Taylor, S. (2007). A sustainable product: What is it 

and how can it be achieved? Presentation to the Plastics and 

Chemicals Industry Association Annual Conference, Sydney, 


Guzik, M.T., Cho, J-L., Humphreys, W.F., Cooper, S.J.B. 

and Austin, A. (2007). Phylogeography of the ancient 

Parabathynellidae (Crustacea: Syncarida) from the Yilgarn 

region of Western Australia: Perspectives on the evolutionary 

history of subterranean fauna from the Australian arid 

region. Presentation, 5th International Southern Connection 

Conference, Adelaide, South Australia, 21-25 January 2007. 

Guzic, M.T., Cooper, S.J., Humphreys, W.F., Watts, C.H.S. 

and Austin, A.D. (2006). High levels of genetic diversity 

in Australian cave dwelling diving beetles. Presentation, 

Evolution 2006. Annual meeting of the Society for the Study 

of Evolution, the Society of Systematic Biologists, and the 

American Society of Naturalists, Stony Brook, USA, 

23-27 June 2006. 

Hancock, P.J. and Humphreys, W.F. (2006). Patterns in 

stygofaunal distribution in three regions of New South Wales, 

Australia. HydroEco 2006. Presentation, International 

Multidisciplinary Conference on Hydrology and Ecology: 

The groundwater/Ecology Connection, Czech Association of 

Hydrogeologists ( ˇ Ceská asociace hydrogeologu ° , ˇ CAH), 

Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, 11–14 September 2006. 

Harvey, M.S. (2006). Spectacular spiders. Presentation, 

Biodiversity in the suburbs. The WA Museum, Perth. 


Cultural Centre Open Day, Perth. 


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Field Naturalist Club of WA, Nedlands. 

Harvey, M.S. (2007). Taxonomy and nomenclature. 

Presentation, Curtin University, Bentley. 

Harvey, M.S., Berry, O., Edward, K., Walter, D. and 

Humphreys, G. (2007). A tale of different origins: Pisolitic 

mesas in the Pilbara contain subterranean fauna with 

contrasting evolutionary histories. Presentation, Southern 

Connection Conference, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 

21–25 January 2007. 

Hass, C. (2007). Biodiversity of the marine fauna on the 

central West Coast. Presentation, SRFME symposium, 

22 February 2007. 

Houston, T. (2006). Presentation, Biodiversity in the suburbs, 

The WA Museum, 7 September 2006. 

Houston, T. (2006). Mud crickets. Presentation, WA Insect 

Study Society, 11 October 2006. 

Houston, T. (2006). Geotrupid beetles – what role do they 

play in the dispersal of mycorrhizal fungi? Presentation, 

WA Insect Study Society, 13 December 2006. 

Houston, T. (2007). Unearthing the secrets of sandgropers. 

Presentation, WA Insect Study Society, 11 April 2007. 

Houston, T. (2007). Indispensable insects sustaining 

ecosystems. Presentation, Presentation, Kings Park Seminar 

series, 21 June 2007. 

How, R. (2006). Where Continents Collide. Presentation, 

Natural History Club, Colombo University, 21 October 2006. 

How, R. (2006). Urban Biodiversity, a faunal perspective. 

Presentation, CALM Regional Leaders, 6 December 2006. 

How, R. (2006). Serendib: A biodiversity hotspot. 

Presentation, The WA Museum, 19 December 2006. 

How, R. (2007). Biodiversity Baseline Survey (BBS) 

- Data Assessment and Analysis. Presentation, Sri Lankan 

Consultants, Sri Lanka, 26 January 2007. 

How, R. (2007). Nightwalk in Kings Park. Presentation, 

Leader of Kings Park Friends, 22 February 2007. 

How, R. (2007). Biodiversity Assessment: A practitioner’s 

perspective. Presentation, Conservation Biology year 3, 

Murdoch University, 2 March 2007. 

How, R. (2007). Biodiversity Baseline Survey of Sri Lanka: 

Hortons Plain and Peak Wilderness. Presentation, Wardens 

and Park Rangers, Sri Lanka, 8 March 2007. 

How, R. (2007). Biodiversity Baseline Survey public forum – 

Biodiversity information management system. Presentation to 

the Sri Lankan public, clients, donors, NGOs and academics, 


How, R. (2007). Biodiversity Baseline Survey public forum 

– Biodiversity analysis. Presentation, Sri Lankan public, 

clients, donors, NGOs and academics, 15 March 2007. 

How, R. (2007). Consultants Final Report. Presentation, 

client (DWC) and donors, 27 March 2007. 

How, R. (2007). Biodiversity Baseline Survey – Biodiversity 

evaluation workshop. Presentation, Sri Lankan Consultants 

and Academics, 28 March 2007. 

Humphreys, W.F. (2006). Preliminary Subterranean Fauna 

Desktop Study: Burrup Peninsula. SKM for Woodside Offshore 

Petroleum Pty. Ltd., The Western Australian Museum, June 


Humphreys, W.F. (2007). Subterranean biology: southern 

connections and disconnections. Plenary presentation. 

5th International Southern Connection Conference, Adelaide, 

South Australia, 21–25 January 2007. 

Humphreys, W.F., Seymour, J. and Mitchell, J. (2006). 

Stratification of microbial communities in an anchialine 

sinkhole. Presentation, 18th International Symposium on 

Subterranean Biology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, July 2006. 

Humphreys, W.F. Watts, C.H.S., Leys, R. and Cooper, S.J.B. 

(2006). Subterranean wetlands of arid Australia: remipedes, 

spelaeogriphaceans and diving beetles. Extended abstract, 

Helictite 39: 60–61. 

Johnstone, R. (2006). Survival of endangered cockatoos. 

Presentation, BEAC Plenary Session, Armadale, 

2 August 2006. 

Johnstone, R. (2006). Birds of the Kimberley islands and 

seabirds of Christmas Island. Presentation, Kimberley Society, 


Johnstone, R. (2006). Threatened species. Biodiversity in the 

suburbs presentation, The WA Museum, 7 September 2006. 

Johnstone, R. (2006). Cockatoos. Presentation, Birds 

Australia Conference, Albany, 19-20 October 2006. 

Johnstone, R. (2006). Cockatoos. Presentation and workshop 

to Alcoa, Worsley and other mining groups, 

Huntly Mine, 15 November 2006. 

Johnstone, R. (2006). Endangered cockatoos. Workshop 

to Department of Environment and Water Resources and 

Department of Environment and Conservation, 

22 November 2006. 

Johnstone, R. (2006). Recovery Team meeting and 

presentation for forest cockatoos. 28 November 2006. 

Johnstone, R. (2006). Recovery Team meeting and 

presentation for Carnaby’s Cockatoo. 30 November 2006. 

Johnstone, R. (2006). Endangered cockatoos and critical 

habitat. Seminar and Workshop, Department of Environment 

and Conservation, 4 December 2006. 

Johnstone, R. (2006). Carnaby’s Cockatoo. Seminar, 

Biodiversity Forum, Lancelin, 4 March 2007. 

Jones, D. (2006/07). Expeditions. Brett Hill Art exhibition 

‘Expedition’, opening October, 2006. 

Jones, D. (2007). The biodiversity of the Dampier 

Archipelago. Presentation,WAMSI Symposium, 

29 March, 2007. 

Jones, D. (2007). Edith Cowan University Certificate 

in Museum Studies Course, Edith Cowan University in 

conjunction with The WA Museum, March 11, 2007. 

Kangas, M. and Morrison, S. (2006). Bycatch Matters. 

Presentation of selected results from FRDC project 

2002/038, trawl bycatch in Shark Bay and Exmouth Gulf 

prawn fisheries, Department of Fisheries WA, Hillarys, 

13 October 2006. 

Leijs, R., Watts, C.H.S., Cooper, S.J.B. and Humphreys, W.F. 

(2006). Multiple body size classes of subterranean diving 

beetles repeated in numerous aquifers of arid Australia. 

Presentation, 18th International Symposium on Subterranean 

Biology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, July 2006. 

MacLeod, I. (2006). Concretion formation and corrosion 

mechanisms. Training Lecture to Earthwatch Volunteer team, 

Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia, July 2006. 

MacLeod, I. (2006). Cape Hatteras to Pearl Harbour: Saving 

America’s Iron shipwreck heritage. Public lecture, Old 

Dominion University, Virginia, USA, November 2006. 

MacLeod, I. (2006). Confederate and Union forces unit to 

conserve America’s historic iron shipwrecks: a tale of the 

submarine HL Hunley and the USS Monitor. Public talk, 

The Mariners Museum, Newport News, Virginia, USA, 


MacLeod, I. (2006). Use of in-situ conservation and corrosion 

studies for managing underwater cultural heritage. Conference 

paper, International Eastern Analytical Symposium, New 

Jersey, November 2006. 


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MacLeod, I. (2007). Conserving Burrup Rock art. Public talk, 

University of the Third Age, Albany, April 2007. 

MacLeod, I. (2007). Shipwreck conservation or doing work 

inside a washing machine. Presentation to three High School 

groups in Albany, April 2007. 

MacLeod, I. (2007). Shipwreck conservation science. 

Presentation to year 10-11 students, Northam, Carnarvon, 

Tom Price and Bunbury, May 2007. 

May, S. (2006). Guided tour of Victoria Quay. Fremantle 

History Society, November 2006. 

May, S. (2006). Australia’s Antarctic (Southern Ocean) 

Fisheries. Presentation, Indo-Pacific Crossings Conference, 

Fremantle, December 2006. 

May, S. (2007). Guided tour of Fremantle Fishing Boat 

Harbour. Fremantle History Society, February 2007. 

McCarthy, M. (2006). NAS Training Course. Lectures, 

Shipwreck Galleries, The WA Museum. 

McCarthy, M. (2006). Dampier/deFreycinet. Lecture, Pacific 

Crossings Conference, Fremantle. 

McCarthy, M. (2006). Exploration. Lecture, 

John Curtin Gallery 2006 Celebrations. 

McCarthy, M. (2006). Rotary Tour of the Shipwreck Galleries. 

The WA Museum. 

McCarthy, M. (2006). Zuytdorp 2006 Celebrations. Lecture, 

National Maritime Museum. 

McCarthy, M. (2007). NAS Training Course. Lectures, 


McCarthy, M. (2007). Early Explorers. Gallery Talk, Shipwreck 

Galleries, The WA Museum. 

McCarthy, M. (2007). James Matthews. Gallery Talk. 


McCarthy, M. (2007). Dampier/deFreycinet and Submarine 

Explorer. Lecture, Archaeology Week, Maritime and 


McNamara, K. (2006). Shapes of Time – Using the Fossil 

Record to Explain Evolution. Mawson Lecture, Australian 

Earth Sciences Convention, Melbourne, 5 July 2006. 

McNamara, K. (2006). Research: Devonian trilobites from the 

Kimberley. Presentation, University of Western Australia, 14 


McNamara, K. (2006). Shapes of Time – Using the Fossil 

Record to Explain Evolution. Mawson Lecture. Geological 

Society of Australia, 10 December 2006. 

Myers, M. (2007). Tackling the Textiles at Samson House. 

Workshop, Fremantle Heritage Festival, May 2007. 

Prall, R. (2007). Object Handling and museology. Batavia 

Shipwreck Lecture for the University of Western Australia 

archaeology undergraduates, Shipwreck Galleries Museum, 


Prall, R and Rodrigues, J. (2006). Disaster, loss and absolute 

failure: The experiences of Captain George Grey in Western 

Australia. Conference paper, joint Australian Society for 

Historical Archaeology (ASHA) and Australian Institute for 

Maritime Archaeology Conference (AIMA), Darwin, 14–18 

September 2006. 

Prall, R and Rodrigues, J. (2007). Captain George Grey 

and artefacts. Presentation, National Archaeology Week, 

Shipwreck Galleries Museum, 24 May 2007. 

Prall, R and Souter, C. (2006). Rotary Tour of Maritime 

Archaeology Collections and object handling, Shipwreck 

Galleries, The WA Museum. 

Prideaux, G. (2006). Nullarbor research and its scientific 

significance. Lecture, Royal Society of Western Australia, 

Perth, 19 June 2006. 

Prideaux, G. (2006). Nullarbor research. Presentation, 

Western Australian Lapidary and Rock Hunting Club, Perth, 



significance. Lecture, School of Animal Biology, University of 

Western Australia, Perth, 1 September 2006. 

Prideaux, G. (2006). Nullarbor research: Australian mammal 

evolution and insights. Lecture, Biology School, University of 

Notre Dame, Fremantle, 4 September 2006. 


significance. Lecture, School of Biological Sciences, Flinders 

University, Adelaide, 16 February 2007. 

Prideaux, G. (2007). Special guest lecturer/presenter. 

Palaeontology Week, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, 24 

March 2007 

Prideaux, G. (2007). Nullarbor research. Palaeontology Week 

Regional Lecture, Town Hall, Naracoorte, 

South Australia, 26 March 2007. 

Prideaux, G. (2007). Nullarbor research. Lecture to Augusta- 

Margaret River Tourism Association and Department of 

Environment and Conservation staff, Margaret River, 

25 April 2007. 

Prideaux, G. (2007). Nullarbor research. Lecture to the 

general public and Cavers Southwest, Margaret River, 


Prideaux, G. (2007). Nullarbor research. Lecture, Australian 

Museum, Sydney, 26 June 2007. 

Prideaux, G. (2007). Megafauna fossils and Nullarbor 

research. Presentation, students at Hawthorndene Primary 

School, Adelaide, 28 June 2007. 

Richards, V. (2006). Reburial as a Method of Preserving 

Waterlogged Archaeological Remains. Presentation of 

the Marstrand Project, Australasian Institute of Maritime 

Archaeology/Australian Society for Historical Archaeology 

Combined Annual Conference, Darwin, 

14–19 September 2006. 

Richards, V. (2007). In-situ preservation of the James 

Matthews site. Lecture to the Maritime Archaeology 

Association of Western Australia, March 2007. 

Richards, V. (2007). Behind the scenes tours of the 

Conservation and Maritime Archaeology Departments for 

National Archaeology Week. Public Tour, Shipwreck Galleries, 

The WA Museum, May 2007. 

Richards, V. (2007). Deterioration and conservation of 

Maritime Archaeological materials. Lecture, Australasian 

Institute of Maritime Archaeology/Nautical Archaeology 

Society Part 1 Course, May 2007. 

Richards, V. (2007). In-situ Preservation of shipwreck sites. 

Public Lecture, Shipwreck Galleries, The WA Museum, 

May 2007. 

Rodrigues, J. (2006). Shipwrecks and boat finds: a brief 

introduction to maritime archaeology. Presentation, National 

Archaeology Week, Shipwreck Galleries, The WA Museum, 


Rodrigues, J. (2007) Presentation, National Archaeology 

Week, the University of Western Australia, 21 May 2007. 

Rodrigues, J. and Prall, R. (2006). Disaster, loss and absolute 

failure: The experiences of Captain George Grey in Western 

Australia. Conference paper presentation, AIMA/ASHA 

Conference, Darwin. 


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Rodrigues, J. and Prall R. (2007). History of George Grey in 

Western Australia and general artefact handling. Presentation, 


Rodzinyak, K.J., Denniston, R.F., Asmerom, Y., Wyrwoll, 

K-H. and Humphreys, W.F. (2007). Growth histories of Late 

Pleistocene and Holocene stalagmites from Cape Range, 

Western Australia. Presentation, Geological Society of America, 

Abstracts with Programs Vol. 39 (3). 

Smith, M. (2006). Fishing – Kimberley style. Museum@Work 

series, Perth, 25 August 2006. 

Smith, M. (2006). Museums and cultural heritage 

management. Presentation to the University of Western 

Australia Archaeology Honours students, 31 August 2006. 

Smith, M. (2006). Aboriginal art and social identity, and the 

Spinifex Paintings from the Western Desert. Presentation to 

the Edith Cowan University Aboriginal Studies students, 


Smith, M. (2006). Floor talk - Katta Djinoong. FACET, 


Smith, M. (2006). Are There Mummies? Presentation, Louvre 

Ancient Egyptian exhibition, National Gallery of Australia, 

Canberra, 26 November 2006. 

Smith, M. (2007).Tour of Katta Djinoong. Curtin University 

Aboriginal bridging course students, 25 May 2007. 

Smith, M. (2007). The Seven Sisters and other works in 

spinifex. Tour of collections for Friends of the Museum, 


Souter, C. (2006). Western Australian Shipwrecks. 

Presentation, Fremantle Sailing Club. 

Souter, C. (2006). NAS Part I (Australian Institute of Maritime 

Archaeology) – Introduction to Maritime Archaeology. 

Presentation. 

Souter, C. (2007). Maritime Archaeology. Presentation, 

Sea Scouting Association of Western Australia. 

Souter, C. (2007). Archaeology of the Sepia. Presentation, 

National Archaeology Week, The WA Museum. 

Souter, C. (2007). Colonial Wrecks Artefacts. Presentation, 

The WA Museum. 

Souter, C. (2007). Maritime Archaeology Training for 

Archaeologists. Presentation, Academica Sinica, Taipei, 

Taiwan, 26 February – 4 March 2007. 

Stevenson, C. (2006). Changes in bird demography in an 

altered landscape Presentation, Birds Australia Congress and 

Campout Albany, 20 October 2006. 

Stevenson, C. (2006). Lecture and tutorial on birds. Rio Tinto 

1st Amelia Heights Cub Scout Group, 28 October 2006. 

Stevenson, C. (2007). Bird photography and field 

photography techniques. Guest Speaker, General Meeting, 

WA Nature Photography Group (WA Naturalists Club), 


Van Duivenvoorde, W. (2006). Land, sea and air - Australian 

archaeology from past to present, 1606-2006. Presentation, 

AIMA/ASHA Annual Conference, Joint Archaeological 

Conference: Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology 

(AIMA) and Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology 

(ASHA), Darwin, 14-18 September 2006. 

Van Duivenvoorde, W. (2006). The Uluburun shipwreck: 

exploring the Late Bronze Age Mediterranean from beneath 

the sea. Archaeology Seminar Series, Presentation, School 

of Social and Cultural Studies, the University of Western 

Australian, 26 October 2006. 

Van Duivenvoorde, W. (2007). Center for Maritime 

Archaeology and Conservation Lecture Series. Presentation, 

Nautical Archaeology Program, Department of Anthropology, 

Texas AandM University, College Station, 19 January 2007. 

Van Duivenvoorde, W. (2007). Our earliest Dutch shipwrecks: 

Australia’s cultural heritage sheds new light on Dutch 

shipbuilding practices. Batavia Lecture Series, New Maritime 

Museum, Fremantle, 23 March 2007. 

Van Duivenvoorde, W. (2007). Batavia’s timbers and 

Rembrandt’s panels: a perfect match. Presentation, National 

Archaeology Week, New Maritime Museum, Fremantle, 


Van Duivenvoorde, W. (2007). Our Batavia timbers and 

Rembrandt’s panels: a perfect match. Presentation, School 

of Social and Cultural Studies, the University of Western 

Australia, 23 May 2007. 


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720 ABC Perth 

Academica Sinica, Taiwan 

Alcoa Foundation 

Alcoa of Australia 

Alinta Limited 

American Museum of Natural History 

Argyle Diamonds 

Australia II Jubilee Challenge 2001 Inc. 

Australian Biological Resources Study 

Australian Capital Equity 

Australian Government Department of Defence 

Australian Research Council 

Azure Capital 

BankWest 

BHP Billiton Iron Ore 

Biota Environmental Sciences Pty Ltd 

Broadwater Hotels and Resorts 

Budget Rent A Car 

Channel 9 

Chevron Australia Pty Ltd 

Department of Environment and Conservation 

Department of the Environment and Water Resources 

Faye Mrs Bridget 

Fremantle Ports 

Gatecrasher Advertising 

GeoForce, Pty Ltd. 

GRD Limited 

Home Building Society Ltd 

Jock Clough Foundation 

Kailis and France Holdings Pty Ltd 

Kailis Australian Pearls 

Kailis Bros Pty Ltd 

Kailis Consolidated Pty Ltd 

Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines Pty Ltd 

Lionel Samson & Son Pty Ltd 

McCusker Mr Malcolm 

MG Kailis Group 

Monarch Gold Mining 

Moore Stephens 

North West Shelf Shipping Service Company Pty Ltd 

Pilbara Iron 

SPONSORS BENEfAcTORS AND gRANTINg AgENcIES 

Port Bouvard 

Prime Health Group 

Phelps Mrs Ruth Rowell 

Rio Tinto WA Future Fund 

Royal Australian Navy 

Sadleirs Transport 

Sealanes Pty Ltd 

Shell Development (Australia) Pty Ltd 

Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale 

Skippers Aviation 

Skywest Airlines 

South Coast Regional Initiative Planning Team 

Telstra Country Wide 

Tenix Defence Pty Ltd – Marine Division 

The West Australian 

TSA Telco Group 

Ungar Mr Tim 

US National Science Foundation 

Western Australian Cricket Association 

Water Corporation 

Western Australian Fishing Industry Council 

WMC - Sir Lindesay Clark Trust Fund 

Woodside Energy Limited 

Woodside Valley Foundation 


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